BabyUniversity.com › Forums › Hot Topics › Headlines › Are Chinese gymnasts too young for Olympics?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Are Chinese gymnasts too young for Olympics?

post #1 of 9
7/29/08 at 1:00pm
Thread Starter 
BEIJING (AP)—Two female Chinese gymnasts, including a gold-medal favorite, might be too young to participate in the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

story here
Reply
post #2 of 9
7/29/08 at 1:35pm

Re: Are Chinese gymnasts too young for Olympics?

You know I read this yesterday and my personal opinion is if they are good enough - let them compete. Isn't the olympics supposed to be best of the best?
Reply
post #3 of 9
7/29/08 at 2:43pm

Re: Are Chinese gymnasts too young for Olympics?

I agree with Karen! It should be the best of the best no matter what their age.
Reply
post #4 of 9
7/29/08 at 2:54pm

Re: Are Chinese gymnasts too young for Olympics?

But there are rules and if they aren't old enough according to the rules, they shouldn't compete. There are those athletes that use performance enhancing drugs that makes them "the best" - should they be allowed to compete as well? Far off from simply being under age, I know, but breaking the rules is breaking the rules in my opinion.
Reply
post #5 of 9
7/29/08 at 3:21pm

Re: Are Chinese gymnasts too young for Olympics?

I agree with the rules, However they have recently been put in place. When US won we had girls under 16 becaue they allowed them then. Why they changed the rule I don't know.

I understand rules are rules and YES they shopuld be followed so if they are in fact underage due to the rule they should not be allowed. I just don't agree with it.

And I think taking performance enhancing drugs DOES NOT make you one of the best. You are cheating to win - it is not natual talent. Age & drugs are different.
Reply
post #6 of 9
7/29/08 at 5:29pm

Re: Are Chinese gymnasts too young for Olympics?

I agree that taking drugs doesn't make you the best in actuality, but it does make you the "best" in that you will most likely perform the best. Make sense? Besides, I was just using it as an example as it was all I could come up with at the moment to try and support my answer!

And I think the age requirement is a great thing. I personally believe that kids are being pushed too far too early when it comes to competition, which isn't good for their bodies. Maybe having 16 as the official competition age will help that? Only time will tell . . .
Reply
post #7 of 9
7/29/08 at 7:21pm

Re: Are Chinese gymnasts too young for Olympics?

Actually, I think they should change the age limit to 18 for all sports. I am a child of the 70s. I remember well the days of Nadia Commeniche. I think the intense global competition of the Olympics at such young ages is not healthy for the mind or the spirit. The rules were changed for a reason. Hopefully, one of them was for the emotional well being of the competitors.

I am sure China has many talented gynastists who do meet the age requirements. No other country seems to be asking for favoritism in this matter.
Reply
post #8 of 9
7/29/08 at 8:59pm

Re: Are Chinese gymnasts too young for Olympics?

I have no problem with age restrictions. But they should be enforced across the spectrum. Swimming has one. Gymnastics has one. There should be one uniform age - IF there is going to be one.
Reply
post #9 of 9
7/30/08 at 3:33pm

Re: Are Chinese gymnasts too young for Olympics?

The age for gymnastics is there for a reason. It has to do with how gymnasts perform and develop. By the time they are 16, most gymnasts (particularly female) have hit their biggest growth spurt. Letting them compete at a younger age interferes alot with their natural bodily development. Ever notice how small the breasts of the female gymnasts are? These girls are practicing 8-10 hours a day for YEARS! It interferes with them growing as they should. That is why they changed the age. It used to be 14, then 15. Not only that, these kids need this time to develop emotionally as well as physically.

Personally, I see this as a good thing. I did gymnastics in high school. It's a very hard sport - harder than most people realize. I never had a practice that I didn't go home with bruises, contusions or something. It takes a toll on a growing body.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Headlines
BabyUniversity.com › Forums › Hot Topics › Headlines › Are Chinese gymnasts too young for Olympics?