Age of Chinese gymnast under scrutiny
Apparent conflict raises question about girl who won gold
Posted Thursday, August 14, 2008 6:28 AM ET
BEIJING (AP) - Just nine months before the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government's news agency, Xinhua, reported that gymnast He Kexin was 13, which would have made her ineligible to be on the team that won a gold medal this week.
In its report Nov. 3, Xinhua identified He as one of "10 big new stars" who made a splash at China's Cities Games. It gave her age as 13 and reported that she beat Yang Yilin on the uneven bars at those games. In the final, "this little girl" pulled off a difficult release move on the bars known as the Li Na, named for another Chinese gymnast, Xinhua said in the report, which appeared on one of its Web sites, www.hb.xinhuanet.com
The Associated Press found the Xinhua report on the site Thursday morning and saved a copy of the page. Later that afternoon, the Web site was still working but the page was no longer accessible. Sports editors at the state-run news agency would not comment for publication.
If the age reported by Xinhua was correct, that would have meant He was too young to be on the Chinese team that beat the United States on Wednesday and clinched China's first women's team Olympic gold in gymnastics. He is also a favorite for gold in Monday's uneven bars final.
Yang was also on Wednesday's winning team. Questions have also been raised about her age and that of a third team member, Jiang Yuyuan.
Gymnasts have to be 16 during the Olympic year to be eligible for the games. He's birthday is listed as Jan. 1, 1992.
Videos
* Women's team final: NBC full replay
Women's team final: NBC full replay
Watch the complete coverage of the women's gymnastics team final as it aired on NBC.
* Bela Karolyi interview
* Women's team final, review
Chinese authorities insist that all three are old enough to compete. He herself told reporters after Wednesday's final that "my real age is 16. I don't pay any attention to what everyone says."
Zhang Hongliang, an official with China's gymnastics delegation at the games, said Thursday the differing ages which have appeared in Chinese media reports had not been checked in advance with the gymnastics federation.
"It's definitely a mistake," Zhang said of the Xinhua report, speaking in a telephone interview. "Never has any media outlet called me to check the athletes' ages."
Asked whether the federation had changed their ages to make them eligible, Zhang said: "We are a sports department. How would we have the ability to do that?"
"We already explained this very clearly. There's no need to discuss this thing again."
The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has said repeatedly that a passport is the "accepted proof of a gymnast's eligibility," and that He and China's other gymnasts have presented ones that show they are age eligible. The IOC also checked the girls' passports and deemed them valid.
A May 23 story in the China Daily newspaper, the official English-language paper of the Chinese government, said He was 14. The story was later corrected to list her as 16.
"This is not a USAG issue," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "The FIG and the IOC are the proper bodies to handle this."
http://www.nbcolympics.com/gymnastics/news...ce=rss&cid=
QUOTE(crouchingtiger @ Aug 14 2008, 11:39 AM) 
Age of Chinese gymnast under scrutiny
Apparent conflict raises question about girl who won gold
Posted Thursday, August 14, 2008 6:28 AM ET
BEIJING (AP) - Just nine months before the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government's news agency, Xinhua, reported that gymnast He Kexin was 13, which would have made her ineligible to be on the team that won a gold medal this week.
In its report Nov. 3, Xinhua identified He as one of "10 big new stars" who made a splash at China's Cities Games. It gave her age as 13 and reported that she beat Yang Yilin on the uneven bars at those games. In the final, "this little girl" pulled off a difficult release move on the bars known as the Li Na, named for another Chinese gymnast, Xinhua said in the report, which appeared on one of its Web sites, www.hb.xinhuanet.com
The Associated Press found the Xinhua report on the site Thursday morning and saved a copy of the page. Later that afternoon, the Web site was still working but the page was no longer accessible. Sports editors at the state-run news agency would not comment for publication.
If the age reported by Xinhua was correct, that would have meant He was too young to be on the Chinese team that beat the United States on Wednesday and clinched China's first women's team Olympic gold in gymnastics. He is also a favorite for gold in Monday's uneven bars final.
Yang was also on Wednesday's winning team. Questions have also been raised about her age and that of a third team member, Jiang Yuyuan.
Gymnasts have to be 16 during the Olympic year to be eligible for the games. He's birthday is listed as Jan. 1, 1992.
Videos
* Women's team final: NBC full replay
Women's team final: NBC full replay
Watch the complete coverage of the women's gymnastics team final as it aired on NBC.
* Bela Karolyi interview
* Women's team final, review
Chinese authorities insist that all three are old enough to compete. He herself told reporters after Wednesday's final that "my real age is 16. I don't pay any attention to what everyone says."
Zhang Hongliang, an official with China's gymnastics delegation at the games, said Thursday the differing ages which have appeared in Chinese media reports had not been checked in advance with the gymnastics federation.
"It's definitely a mistake," Zhang said of the Xinhua report, speaking in a telephone interview. "Never has any media outlet called me to check the athletes' ages."
Asked whether the federation had changed their ages to make them eligible, Zhang said: "We are a sports department. How would we have the ability to do that?"
"We already explained this very clearly. There's no need to discuss this thing again."
The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has said repeatedly that a passport is the "accepted proof of a gymnast's eligibility," and that He and China's other gymnasts have presented ones that show they are age eligible. The IOC also checked the girls' passports and deemed them valid.
A May 23 story in the China Daily newspaper, the official English-language paper of the Chinese government, said He was 14. The story was later corrected to list her as 16.
"This is not a USAG issue," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "The FIG and the IOC are the proper bodies to handle this."
http://www.nbcolympics.com/gymnastics/news...ce=rss&cid=
Apparent conflict raises question about girl who won gold
Posted Thursday, August 14, 2008 6:28 AM ET
BEIJING (AP) - Just nine months before the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government's news agency, Xinhua, reported that gymnast He Kexin was 13, which would have made her ineligible to be on the team that won a gold medal this week.
In its report Nov. 3, Xinhua identified He as one of "10 big new stars" who made a splash at China's Cities Games. It gave her age as 13 and reported that she beat Yang Yilin on the uneven bars at those games. In the final, "this little girl" pulled off a difficult release move on the bars known as the Li Na, named for another Chinese gymnast, Xinhua said in the report, which appeared on one of its Web sites, www.hb.xinhuanet.com
The Associated Press found the Xinhua report on the site Thursday morning and saved a copy of the page. Later that afternoon, the Web site was still working but the page was no longer accessible. Sports editors at the state-run news agency would not comment for publication.
If the age reported by Xinhua was correct, that would have meant He was too young to be on the Chinese team that beat the United States on Wednesday and clinched China's first women's team Olympic gold in gymnastics. He is also a favorite for gold in Monday's uneven bars final.
Yang was also on Wednesday's winning team. Questions have also been raised about her age and that of a third team member, Jiang Yuyuan.
Gymnasts have to be 16 during the Olympic year to be eligible for the games. He's birthday is listed as Jan. 1, 1992.
Videos
* Women's team final: NBC full replay
Women's team final: NBC full replay
Watch the complete coverage of the women's gymnastics team final as it aired on NBC.
* Bela Karolyi interview
* Women's team final, review
Chinese authorities insist that all three are old enough to compete. He herself told reporters after Wednesday's final that "my real age is 16. I don't pay any attention to what everyone says."
Zhang Hongliang, an official with China's gymnastics delegation at the games, said Thursday the differing ages which have appeared in Chinese media reports had not been checked in advance with the gymnastics federation.
"It's definitely a mistake," Zhang said of the Xinhua report, speaking in a telephone interview. "Never has any media outlet called me to check the athletes' ages."
Asked whether the federation had changed their ages to make them eligible, Zhang said: "We are a sports department. How would we have the ability to do that?"
"We already explained this very clearly. There's no need to discuss this thing again."
The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has said repeatedly that a passport is the "accepted proof of a gymnast's eligibility," and that He and China's other gymnasts have presented ones that show they are age eligible. The IOC also checked the girls' passports and deemed them valid.
A May 23 story in the China Daily newspaper, the official English-language paper of the Chinese government, said He was 14. The story was later corrected to list her as 16.
"This is not a USAG issue," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "The FIG and the IOC are the proper bodies to handle this."
http://www.nbcolympics.com/gymnastics/news...ce=rss&cid=
She was definitely NOT 16. Actually she looked around 10.
Chinese officials are such dumbfucks. Why can't they ever learn? I am sure they could've gotten a world class team of 16 year olds. Such ########. ###### THEM.
QUOTE(obtuse_edge @ Aug 14 2008, 01:52 PM)
She was definitely NOT 16. Actually she looked around 10.
Chinese officials are such dumbfucks. Why can't they ever learn? I am sure they could've gotten a world class team of 16 year olds. Such ########. ###### THEM.
Chinese officials are such dumbfucks. Why can't they ever learn? I am sure they could've gotten a world class team of 16 year olds. Such ########. ###### THEM.
They look younger than 16. But I read a report this morning that Chinese officials have faxed their passports to Olympic committee and proved they are above 16.
of course this has nothing to do with china's having 22 golds currently against 10 for usa 
QUOTE(iwinit @ Aug 14 2008, 02:11 PM)
They look younger than 16. But I read a report this morning that Chinese officials have faxed their passports to Olympic committee and proved they are above 16.
If I could issue passports, I could be 657 years old and what can you say about that?
I just really hate some of these Chinese officials, they are really short sighted and stupid. No way is she 16. Her birthday was Jan 1st, 1992, does that sound real to you? They obviously cheated. Even as a Chinese myself, I'm really ashamed of this garbage. If they violated the rules, they need to have their medal taken away. That should teach those stupid Chinese officials a lesson. Those shameless assholes.
In most cases, East Asian (Chinese, Korean, Japanese) look younger than their age in comparison to others. And gymnasts in general are pettier, so Chinses Gymnast looking younger than their age is not all that surprising.
Most of Asian ladies we see everyday look younger than their age.
Most of Asian ladies we see everyday look younger than their age.
QUOTE(Archangelesk99 @ Aug 14 2008, 03:13 PM)
of course this has nothing to do with china's having 22 golds currently against 10 for usa
and out of the 10 for USA 5 came from 1 person!
X-ray her wrist, and count the rings.
why all this media hype?
why all this media hype?
Evidence shows the Girls are underage
EXHIBIT A: A China Daily article dated May 23, 2008 titled "Uneven-bars queen the new star in town" about He Kexin. This is the cached version (thanks Google) of the article as seen on August 4, 2008.
EXHIBIT B: The same China Daily article dated May 23, 2008 titled "Uneven-bars queen the new star in town" about He Kexin. This is the version currently available online. As you can see, when compared to EXHIBIT A, everything is identical. Except for one little thing. The state-run newspaper has changed He's age.
EXHIBIT C: A Chinese article written by state-run news agency Xinhua in 2007, and discovered by the great China Digital Times that refers to He Kexin as 13 years old. And though I wasn't a math major, if she was 13 in 2007, then she's 14 this year. Here is an image of the article with a translation from CDT beneath it.
EXHIBIT D: An official gymnastics roster dated January 27, 2006 published by the Chengdu government for its City Games, a competition in which He competed. As you'll see from the translated version I have provided, He Kexin's date of birth, according to these government documents, is January 1, 1994.
EXHIBIT E: A Xinhua (Chinese state media) article from November 3, 2007 stating clearly that "The Wuhan Team's 13-year-old He Kexin faced off against the National Teams' Yang Yilin in women's parallel bars." Once again, 13 in 2007, 14 in 2008
EXHIBIT A: A China Daily article dated May 23, 2008 titled "Uneven-bars queen the new star in town" about He Kexin. This is the cached version (thanks Google) of the article as seen on August 4, 2008.
EXHIBIT B: The same China Daily article dated May 23, 2008 titled "Uneven-bars queen the new star in town" about He Kexin. This is the version currently available online. As you can see, when compared to EXHIBIT A, everything is identical. Except for one little thing. The state-run newspaper has changed He's age.
EXHIBIT C: A Chinese article written by state-run news agency Xinhua in 2007, and discovered by the great China Digital Times that refers to He Kexin as 13 years old. And though I wasn't a math major, if she was 13 in 2007, then she's 14 this year. Here is an image of the article with a translation from CDT beneath it.
EXHIBIT D: An official gymnastics roster dated January 27, 2006 published by the Chengdu government for its City Games, a competition in which He competed. As you'll see from the translated version I have provided, He Kexin's date of birth, according to these government documents, is January 1, 1994.
EXHIBIT E: A Xinhua (Chinese state media) article from November 3, 2007 stating clearly that "The Wuhan Team's 13-year-old He Kexin faced off against the National Teams' Yang Yilin in women's parallel bars." Once again, 13 in 2007, 14 in 2008
Wow...this pussycat reads Chinese and really hates China.
And for a good reason I bet?
Anyhow, now we know where he is from and what he is.
P.S. I wish the girl in question was 10 or younger, so she might have more years ahead of her. That would really rankle in the cat's mind.
And for a good reason I bet?
Anyhow, now we know where he is from and what he is.
P.S. I wish the girl in question was 10 or younger, so she might have more years ahead of her. That would really rankle in the cat's mind.
His source is this; huffingtonpost.com ... a glorified blog.
Nonetheless, it could well be true, that girl looks really young.
Nonetheless, it could well be true, that girl looks really young.
i somehow know some crouching tick from a dust filled dark corner would leap out proclaim china cheating, etc. 
i have seen the other side of the evidence besides the official documents on that girls age. a documentary movie produced last year but filmed since 2002 right after beijing won the host bid. see for urselves. here's the youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUGx-R90Tpo
the documentary is trying to provide a wide angle picture of how china has been preparing the olympics. in it, training and preparing athletes was one part. since 2001, right after beijing got the game, china started a program to train future athletes for the game. he kexin was one among many filmed. she said then she was 10!!! that was in 2002, 6 years before the game!! u think china would deliberately train an unknown girl who would be underaged by the game time? 6 years is eternity to train young talents. she was only one among hundreds of young girls in the gymnastic programs around country. in fact, no other girl in her gymnastic class ever made to the national team. r u saying she could foresee the future and started lying in 2002 already!?
well i am noting trying to say the news reports r faked, but we have all seen sloppy journalistic works in the past. i know on this issue chinese news source all the sudden r really impeccable source of information to some again.
btw, judging age by looks is quite ridiculous. how many 16+ white girls r as small as shawn johnson? y nobody is questioning her age?
i have seen the other side of the evidence besides the official documents on that girls age. a documentary movie produced last year but filmed since 2002 right after beijing won the host bid. see for urselves. here's the youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUGx-R90Tpo
the documentary is trying to provide a wide angle picture of how china has been preparing the olympics. in it, training and preparing athletes was one part. since 2001, right after beijing got the game, china started a program to train future athletes for the game. he kexin was one among many filmed. she said then she was 10!!! that was in 2002, 6 years before the game!! u think china would deliberately train an unknown girl who would be underaged by the game time? 6 years is eternity to train young talents. she was only one among hundreds of young girls in the gymnastic programs around country. in fact, no other girl in her gymnastic class ever made to the national team. r u saying she could foresee the future and started lying in 2002 already!?
well i am noting trying to say the news reports r faked, but we have all seen sloppy journalistic works in the past. i know on this issue chinese news source all the sudden r really impeccable source of information to some again.
btw, judging age by looks is quite ridiculous. how many 16+ white girls r as small as shawn johnson? y nobody is questioning her age?
QUOTE(nolies @ Aug 15 2008, 03:13 AM)
i somehow know some crouching tick from a dust filled dark corner would leap out proclaim china cheating, etc.
i have seen the other side of the evidence besides the official documents on that girls age. a documentary movie produced last year but filmed since 2002 right after beijing won the host bid. see for urselves. here's the youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUGx-R90Tpo
the documentary is trying to provide a wide angle picture of how china has been preparing the olympics. in it, training and preparing athletes was one part. since 2001, right after beijing got the game, china started a program to train future athletes for the game. he kexin was one among many filmed. she said then she was 10!!! that was in 2002, 6 years before the game!! u think china would deliberately train an unknown girl who would be underaged by the game time? 6 years is eternity to train young talents. she was only one among hundreds of young girls in the gymnastic programs around country. in fact, no other girl in her gymnastic class ever made to the national team. r u saying she could foresee the future and started lying in 2002 already!?
well i am noting trying to say the news reports r faked, but we have all seen sloppy journalistic works in the past. i know on this issue chinese news source all the sudden r really impeccable source of information to some again.
btw, judging age by looks is quite ridiculous. how many 16+ white girls r as small as shawn johnson? y nobody is questioning her age?
i have seen the other side of the evidence besides the official documents on that girls age. a documentary movie produced last year but filmed since 2002 right after beijing won the host bid. see for urselves. here's the youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUGx-R90Tpo
the documentary is trying to provide a wide angle picture of how china has been preparing the olympics. in it, training and preparing athletes was one part. since 2001, right after beijing got the game, china started a program to train future athletes for the game. he kexin was one among many filmed. she said then she was 10!!! that was in 2002, 6 years before the game!! u think china would deliberately train an unknown girl who would be underaged by the game time? 6 years is eternity to train young talents. she was only one among hundreds of young girls in the gymnastic programs around country. in fact, no other girl in her gymnastic class ever made to the national team. r u saying she could foresee the future and started lying in 2002 already!?
well i am noting trying to say the news reports r faked, but we have all seen sloppy journalistic works in the past. i know on this issue chinese news source all the sudden r really impeccable source of information to some again.
btw, judging age by looks is quite ridiculous. how many 16+ white girls r as small as shawn johnson? y nobody is questioning her age?
Exactly when I look at Shawn Johnson , I was asking myself is this girl really 16 year-old American girl ?
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