U.S. 'Women' to Face Chinese 'Girls' in Olympic Gymnastics

In what may be the most anticipated event of these Olympic Games, American gymnasts Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin will compete for the individual all-around title against, among others, China's Yang Yilin and Jiang Yuyuan, with perhaps a billion people around the world watching on live TV tonight (Friday morning in Beijing).

But while women's gymnastics has mostly been spared the performance-enhancing drug scandals that have plagued other Olympic sports, Americans are increasingly convinced that China is engaging in another kind of cheating, by permitting underage gymnasts to compete.

Since 1997, International Olympic Committee rules have been clear: To compete in the Games, gymnasts must turn 16 during the Olympic year. Do the Chinese gymnasts look old enough to you?

They don't to me, and they don't to legendary gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi, who complained that some of China's gymnasts were "obviously kids," and they don't to Selena Roberts of Sports Illustrated, who wrote that they "looked like girls who had just rummaged through their mothers' makeup."

And then this morning, the Associated Press uncovered a report from late last year in which China's state-run news service said gymnast He Kexin was 13 -- meaning she shouldn't have been allowed to compete in these Games. Other American media reports have cast doubt on the ages of Yang and Jiang.

But compete she did, and she already has a gold around her neck. As Americans, we don't want to sound like we're complaining because the Chinese gymnasts beat the Americans in the team competition, and the International Olympic Committee doesn't want to do anything to upset the host nation. But this is a serious issue surrounding a major sporting event.

And just looking at the 16-year-old Johnson and the 18-year-old Liukin alongside the (allegedly) 16-year-old Yang and Jiang, it's difficult to shake the feeling that we're watching American women against Chinese girls. So far the IOC says there's no proof, but there's so much smoke that it's extremely hard to believe that there's no fire.

Chinese Womens Gymnastics Team

China's yang Yilin poses during the women's team final of the artistic gymnastics event of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing on August 13, 2008. China won the gold, while United States won the silver and Romania the bronze. AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

BEIJING - AUGUST 13: Jiang Yuyuan of China competes in the uneven bars during the artistic gymnastics team event at the National Indoor Stadium during Day 5 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 13, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jiang Yuyuan

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BEIJING - AUGUST 13: Jiang Yuyuan of China celebrates after finishing her floor exercise routine in the artistic gymnastics team event at the National Indoor Stadium during Day 5 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 13, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jiang Yuyuan

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BEIJING - AUGUST 13: Li Shanshan of China holds up her gold medal with teammate Jiang Yuyuan and their coach after the women's team final of the artistic gymnastics event at the National Indoor Stadium during Day 5 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 13, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Li Shanshan;Jiang Yuyuan

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BEIJING - AUGUST 13: Deng Linlin of China celebrates after finishes her balance beam routine in the artistic gymnastics team event at the National Indoor Stadium during Day 5 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 13, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Deng Linlin

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BEIJING - AUGUST 13: Li Shanshan of China performs on the balance beam during the women's team final of the artistic gymnastics event at the National Indoor Stadium during Day 5 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 13, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Li Shanshan

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BEIJING - AUGUST 13: Li Shanshan of China hugs her coach after her team won the gold medal in the women's team final of the artistic gymnastics event at the National Indoor Stadium during Day 5 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 13, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Li Shanshan

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BEIJING - AUGUST 13: He Kexin of China waves to the crowd after receiving her gold medal in the team final event at the National Indoor Stadium during Day 5 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 13, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** He Kexin

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BEIJING - AUGUST 13: Shawn Johnson of the United States is congratulated by Cheng Fei of China after the team final event at the National Indoor Stadium during Day 5 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 13, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shawn Johnson;Cheng Fei

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BEIJING - AUGUST 13: Shawn Johnson of the United States is congratulated by He Kexin of China after the team final event at the National Indoor Stadium during Day 5 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 13, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shawn Johnson;He Kexin

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

8-14-2008 @ 10:13AM

Gary said...

...are the Americans on a platform?

8-14-2008 @ 3:47PM

matt said...

yes they are on a platform. If they were a foot and a half shorter than our gymnast they would be about 4 feet tall.

8-14-2008 @ 10:38AM

Charlie said...

If they're 16 then I'm 61....

8-17-2008 @ 10:27PM

Maryann said...

I agree completely that the Chinese were girls and not women. I also can't see how and why it is allowed!! These woman/girls must have some sort of idenification. We are talking about the government here...I can't believe they can make this happen. I can go on forever, so I hope whoever you are gets this message!! Also, why would you accept a medal when you know you didn't deserve it!!

8-14-2008 @ 10:57AM

NJ said...

well the china "girls" look soooooooooooooo fake and their routines are sloppy!!! and they are NOT 16!

8-14-2008 @ 11:34AM

Kim said...

They are using a document issued by the government as proof of age. The documents in this case are issued by a government who will stop at nothing to win Olympic Gold. Let's see some birth records!

8-14-2008 @ 12:03PM

michael said...

Birth records can be forged just like passports, so that won't help at all. The Chinese are the foremost forgers in the world...they counterfeit US Currency on a large scale and do not recognize international law with regard to patents and copyrights.

Its also odd that Americans are upset about cheating in this venue as they accept cheating and lying from their president on a daily basis and do nothing about it. The biggest cheater and liar in the world is George Bush and if that's ok, well, so are the Chinese girl's i.d. papers.

8-14-2008 @ 11:46AM

catspaw said...

While it's indisputible that the Chinese team outperformed the US team, Olympic officials should launch an intensive investigation about the ages of the Chinese women gymnasts -- not because they beat the US, but because any form of cheating in any sport is unacceptable.

8-21-2008 @ 6:43PM

Pam said...

I agree, Catspaw, I think since this was brought up to the Chinese gov't and the Olympic Committee BEFORE the competition, and the Chinese gov't intentionally lied and falsified dociments to help cover it up, and more evidence has SINCE been uncovered....I think the Chinese should BE STRIPPED of their medals.....be assured if WE used 13 year olds, there was NO WAY WE would have been allowed to compete, LET ALONE win MEDALS

8-14-2008 @ 12:08PM

Don A. said...

1. I question any "sport" where it is actually an advantage to be a child rather than an adult;

2. As the steroid capital of the world, the US is in no moral position to accuse.

8-14-2008 @ 4:24PM

Jane said...

We maybe the stereoid capital of the world. The world is fast catching up with us too.

Those girls aren't 16, they're more like 8.

8-14-2008 @ 12:01PM

Jim said...

Someone can explain why they not allow to compete below age 16?

8-14-2008 @ 1:15PM

samk11 said...

They are not allowed to compete until they are 16 because gymnasts hit there peak at 13-14. So competing underage gives them an advantage

8-21-2008 @ 2:52PM

Roger said...

Jim,

They shouldn't compete because the Olympic Committee made that rule. Furthermore, they want the performers to be mature and graceful, not just perform the acts.

8-14-2008 @ 7:01PM

rayray said...

there is no way the chinese are 16 NOWAY!!!!! somebody needs to look in to this.

8-14-2008 @ 12:39PM

coyote said...

Who's the biggest star for the Chinese gymnastic team?

Answer: Chee Ting !
;}

8-14-2008 @ 12:50PM

bigdaddydlf03 said...

This is clearly cheating on the part of the Chinese team.

However, do the Americans really want to admit that they lost? Not only lost, but lost to girls with "baby teeth"?

That's more embarrassing than us just losing!

8-14-2008 @ 1:47PM

trvllin said...

No, the girls are not 16, but when did the rules change? Medal winners in past Olympics have been under that age limit. China seems impervious to scorn concerning these tactics as well as other "enhanced" elements of their Olympics presentation so apparently it's whatever it takes to win. And, regarding gymnastics, WHAT'S WITH THE CLIPPIES in the hair? Get a haircut, grow it longer and secure it in a band, whatever, but lose those stupid looking clippies and bobby pins!