UrbanSwirl.com - Lifestyles of Color

The Chinese Women's Gymnastic Team won the Gold this week. Their fans and family all cheered in victory. China is very proud. However, a big giant elephant question mark lingers over the minds and speech from the other countries.
Truly, how old are the the Chinese gymnasts? Olympic regulations states that female gymnasts must be 16 years old or older to compete. Legendary gymnastic coach, Bela Karolyi complained:

"obviously kids... and you're telling the world they are 16? What arrogance!"
Were three of the six Chinese women on the stand actually too young to be competing?

The ages of the gymnasts have become the subject of an intense debate. Link NYTimes

Well, you be the judge. Their country issued valid passport says they are 16.


He Kexin


Yang Yilin


Jiang Yuyan stands considerably shorter than Dariya Zgoba - 17yo (UKR) and Dasha Joura - 17yo (AUS).

In an Authoritarian Country like China, age is such an easy thing to alter. And falsfication of government documents by that government is nothing new (and quite frankly, not surprising).

Maybe the Olympic Federation should just remove the 16yo rule altogether - then every country can develop their Shirley Temple Fembot gymnasts and compete. It will be a level-playing field.