Are China’s gymnasts underage?

The World
The World

There’s been mounting evidence over the course of recent weeks uncovered by news media that there had been a number of government-run media in China that listed their ages as 13 or 14 last year. One such document was recently deleted but a computer sleuth still was able to find the cache that had this document. Some have raised the question of why the Chinese government would’ve left this info on their website if these girls really are 14? I know there is a feeling that if you keep things in the Chinese language it’s not going to be accessible foreigners. (What’s the advantage in putting up younger girls?) For gymnastics, the body is supposed to be more flexible before women fully develop. Some gymnasts say you’re also a bit more fearless when you’re younger. (So what are the stakes here?) Five out of six gymnasts have ages who have been called into question, and the Chinese gymnasts have won 9 out of 14 medals in the sport which is an amazing feat. China is way ahead in the gold medal count, but it’d be a huge loss of face for China which had a lot of pride riding on its gymnastics team.

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