olympic gymnast criticism bounces off
this whole debate about the exact age of the chinese gymnasts is, to pass the buck, the fault of the international olympic committee. they need to relax the rule, lower it to 14.
the rules for competing need to be relaxed. in figure skating, no one was complaining about michelle kwan being in senior classes and the alternate to the women's 1994 lillehammer team when she was 14 years old. skating takes just as much time and dedication as gymnastics. so why the double standard?
very likely, a few of the chinese gymnasts are under the tender age of sweet 16. frankly, after visiting hunan province last year, i am just happy thinking of those gymnasts living in the athletic compounds with healthy food and a roof over their head. i am very very sorry for their competition if they are indeed underage, because it gives the young uns an unfair advantage. as nadia comaneci says, "everything is easier when you're younger."
but for american (former romanian) marta karolyi to suggest that a chinese gymnast is underage because she has a missing tooth makes me roll my eyes. do you think it is possible the girl just never received proper dental care like millions of her compatriots? karolyi hails from romania, goodness knows she has her fair of third world experience, so why would she make a comment like that?
her husband, bela karolyi, the man who coached nadia comaneci, has stated in print that while he coached in romania that the country falsified passports so the girls could compete, when they were faced wtih age restrictions. obviously it is done. so, let's make it an even playing field. i reckon those junior gymnasts compete and train just as hard as the seniors do.
in the airport a while ago, it was suggested that sebastian looks younger than his years, because he hasnt lost any teeth and because he is short for his age. should i sign him up for chinese gymnastics? it seems he meets the credentials.
take a look at pictures of kwan as a 16 year old. i think she looks 14..or ?? young. she looks young. but old enough to be a world class athlete.
i am getting off my soapbox because i need to do laundry.
