International Olympic Committee launches probe into He Kexin's age

[babylonsister]

International Olympic Committee launches probe into He Kexin's age
He Kexin of China

(Hans Deryk )

He Kexin after winning gold: the US team has cried foul over her age
Tim Reid in Washington, Jeremy Griffin and Jane Macartney in Beijing


The International Olympic Committee has ordered an investigation into mounting allegations that Chinese authorities covered up the true age of their gold-medal winning gymnastics star because she was too young to compete.

An IOC official told The Times that because of "discrepancies" that have come to light about the age of He Kexin, the host nation’s darling who won gold in both team and individual events, an official inquiry has been launched that could result in the gymnast being stripped of her medals.

The investigation was triggered as a US computer expert claimed today to have uncovered Chinese government documents that he says prove she is only 14 - making her ineligible to compete in the Olympics - rather than 16, as officials in Beijing insist is her age.

Mike Walker, a computer security expert, told The Times how he tracked down two documents that he says had been removed from a Chinese government website. The documents, he said, stated that He’s birth date was January 1 1994 - making her 14 - and not January 1 1992, which is printed in her passport.

He’s true age has been a subject of swirling controversy since the Games began. Questions over her eligibility intensified after she edged out the US gymnast Nastia Liukin for the gold medal in the uneven bars on Monday, and was part of the team gold triumph last week. She also edged Britain’s Beth Tweddle out of the medals.

more...

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4583174.ece

[glowing]

1. Is it much easier for a 14yr old to win over a 16yr old?

[kestrel91316]

3. At this point it doesn't matter. It's one of the rules, and everyone is expected to

play by the rules.

If her scores helped her team win the gold, that may mean that her scores have to be dropped and the Chinese lose the gold. Not sure how the numbers would play out....

[margotb822]

7. Not necessarily gold, but

It has to do with the distribution of body weight (pre-pubescent vs. developed/developing hips and breasts) and also psychological development and a greater willingness to conduct dangerous tricks without considering/fearing consequences.

Plus the whole, rules are rules. HuffPo ran an article about it last week, and basically, China ran articles about her last year, stating that she was 13. Out of 600 million women, they can't get six over the age of 16 to compete? Weird...

[LisaL]

9. US figure skating championship had three out of four

young skaters at the top not eligible to compete at the world figure skating championship. So, they didn't go, and US didn't win any medals. It is likely not the question of finding six gymnasts. No doubt China has plenty of gymnasts. It's the question of sending the best gymnast to the Olympics.

[margotb822]

10. Yes, I agree

But, if the rules say 16, then those are the rules. If the rule is bad, then it needs to be changed, but not just abandoned by one country.

[LisaL]

11. They've come up with this rule supposedly to protect the kids.

But the kids are still training. I think it's a stupid rule, personally. But if one country cheats and the other does not, it's unfair to the country that is not cheating. Like, US got no medals in figure skating worlds this year. If 14 year olds could have gone, perhaps US could have won a medal or two.

[amandabeech]

24. I don't think that the kids would have medaled in that competition.

The older girls are fast and strong, even when they stumble a bit on the jumps. Many of the Euro judges don't go for slow jumping beans at the senior level.

However, the top three underage girls swept the podium at junior worlds. Flatt had gold, the fourth place U.S. finisher whose name I cannot recall silver, and Nigasu bronze.

The U.S. bronze medalist, Ashley Wagner, who will be 17 this year, I think, has changed coaches and is now with Priscilla Hill in Delaware. She was Johnny Weir's coach until recently. Word is that Ashley and Priscilla are making real progress.

It will be an interesting year, both nationally and internationally.

[LisaL]

28. I guess we will never know.

[amandabeech]

47. Well, two of the three might end up at the world championships in March.

Rachel Flatt has already turned into a young lady, the one whose name I can't recall may look a little different, but Nagasu may still be a short toothpick pixie. However, Asada should be able to beat all of them--she's amazing despite her technique problems on the lutz and the non-existent salchow.

[Arrowhead2k1]

26. They said she was 13 last year?!

:rofl: b-b-b-b-b-busted!

[margotb822]

55. Here is the article from HuffPo

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-flumenbaum/scandal-of-the-ages-docum_b_118842.html

[rebel with a cause]

40. You are more flexible at the younger ages

and shorter. That makes a big difference in gymnastics. The older you get the less flexible you are, so even a few years makes a difference according to the experts they are interviewing.

[ThatsMyBarack]

54. I hate to see the sport of figure-skating....

Turning into gymnastics on ice. You have to be a contortionist to score points.

[rebel with a cause]

56. I agree.

And the number of rotations on a jump are more important that the artistic value of the skater. It becomes too nerve racking for me to watch sometimes because it is just one jump after another, with very little skating in between.

[amandabeech]

63. Giving no additional credit for the Bielman position would help.

Maybe just one Bielman position for each program.

Giving fair credit for a simple, beautiful position held for many revolutions might help, at least in the layback.

Angela Nikodinov's last competitive eligible short program ended with her beautiful, beautiful layback held for 15 or so revolutions. It said more than any badly contorted multi-position spin that ends with a Bielman, IMHO.

[Indi Guy]

44. Yes!

China trains these kids from their earliest years. They live in a vacuum & don't know what it's like to lose.

The older you are -- the more Olympic experience you have (and are prepared to lose).

Also -- kids have a lower center of gravity; making it easier to do the routines.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. Tweddle to medal?

It would be poetic justice, after all. :evilgrin:

[truebrit71]

4. Good! I hope they throw the lot of those rotten cheaters out..

....there is simply NO way that all of the "ladies" on that team were 16 years old....or going to be 16 this year...

[glowing]

5. Is there a reason why 14 yr olds do better than 16 yr olds?

The only thing I could think of is the smaller body being lighter and smaller on the tumbling mat.. much harder to go out when you don't need the entire floor to even finish the tumble.

[SmokingJacket]

8. Puberty.

Center of gravity changes with puberty.

[dems_rightnow]

15. In wonderful ways.....

.... but not so good for gymnastics.

[FreeState]

22. Bone density also has an effect - better flexibility n/t

[LostinVA]

52. Balance center, lightness, flexibility, having to relearn skill sets, etc.

Pre or barely starting puberty girls have a distinct advantage.

Plus, IT'S CHEATING.

[Hekate]

38. They are kids, not "rotten cheaters." They've had their childhood stolen by adults...

... who are the real cheaters. I feel sorry for He Kexin if she is stripped of her medals -- it's not her fault.

Hekate

[tkmorris]

39. I agree

I think if this is found to be true they must strip her of her medals, and pass them to those who rightfully earned them, but I do hope that whatever punishments beyond that are dealt to the Chinese Olympic Committee, or whatever serves as such there, and NOT to He Kexin herself.

[truebrit71]

49. Um...they know they rules...or do you think they can't read?

..

[Hekate]

57. The Chinese catch 'em early and train them intensively. It's a totalitarian regime.

I seriously doubt any of the children read the Olympic rules when they were 8 - 10 - 12 or 14 years old. Adults rule every aspect of their lives -- people a lot bigger than they are. Were you, yourself, ever a child? Do you have any children? Because you don't seem to have much empathy for their situation.

Hekate

[truebrit71]

60. Nope I was never a child...

...I was born a cantankerous old bastard...:sarcasm:

[Hekate]

62. True dat.

:rofl: :hi:

[madrchsod]

6. there`s a photo of all three of them standing side by side

and there is a huge difference between her and the other two.

[Coleslilwitch]

14. Younger gymnasts

have it easier. They have no fear of doing the harder tricks, have less body mass and don't have those pesky problems that hit with puberty.

While I think that the age minimum should be dropped, the rules are the rules. If a girl is good enough to make the team at 11, then she should be allowed. An arbitrary age is stupid. What difference does it make in the long run. The skills are what counts.

[Arrowhead2k1]

29. No, young children shouldn't be allowed to compete in the Olympics.

Then things would tend to get a little crazy. The entire gymnastics event would become nothing but child's play. It just wouldn't be appropriate.

[Truth2Tell]

12. Maybe they should investigate this instead

Sure, let's get to the bottom of young-gymnastgate. But please, don't look over there at those pesky torture camps.

From: Daily Mail

Rounded up into torture camps: the 'undesirables' China doesn't want you to see

By Andrew Malone
18th August 2008

The bleak concrete walls topped with razor wire and the sentries in towers at the gates are a chilling reminder of a different era.

On the nearby roads, heavily armed guards patrol relentlessly, checking both drivers and pedestrians, constantly alert.

Meanwhile, less than 30 miles away, the world's attention is focused on the world-famous 'Bird's Nest' Olympic stadium and the other venues where a global audience of two billion is watching the Games and enjoying the spectacle of the 'new' China.

-snip

From street children, hawkers, the homeless and prostitutes, to the mentally ill, black migrants, drug dealers and gays caught in public bathhouses, the camps on the outskirts of the city started filling up with Beijing's 'undesirables' last year as part of the Chinese regime's determination to present what it sees as an acceptable face to the world.

-snip

The camps themselves are festooned with banners in Mandarin Chinese stating that 'you must be punished according to the laws of the Olympics', and reveal the extraordinary lengths to which the Chinese are prepared to go to in order to convince the world of the country's success.

Much more http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1045764/Rounded-torture-camps-The-undesirables-China-doesnt-want-see.html">here.

"you must be punished according to the laws of the Olympics"

No kidding. Just watch the coverage and you will be.

[Redbear]

13. 14 year olds do not necessarily do better than 16 year olds

But in almost all countries a team consisting of the best 13 to 19 year old gymnasts would be better than one that consists of the best 16 to 19 year old gymnasts.

You have at least twice as many gymnasts to choose your best from if you are willing to cheat.

[spoony]

16. I hope that if punishment is dealt out, it will be to China and not the girl

I somehow doubt she had much say in the matter. Award further medals, but don't take hers.

[dems_rightnow]

17. If she's ineligible, she'll lose them.

And they'll be given to the rightful owners.

[spoony]

18. I know, and the records will show that, but

I say let her keep the medals even if they're voided. It's not like there are only so many medals on earth. They aren't the Stanley Cup. This kid didn't mastermind this; she didn't forge the documents to compete. She's as much a victim as anyone. Imagine the life she's lead.

[LisaL]

21. And what do you tell to the girl who would have gotten

the medal? Tough luck? No, if they find someone cheated, they should strip all of those medals, and give them to whoever is next in line.

[Mike Daniels]

51. she still participated in the events knowing she was underage (if she is)

If she were likely to face disciplinary measures for refusing to participate or for "throwing" the event (which would have been the honorable thing to do) then the IOC should have been aware of this and never awarded the Olympics to begin with.

[Doctor Cynic]

19. Regardless, she will excel at the London 2012 Olympics.

[dems_rightnow]

20. I'd imagine so!

She's a fantastic gymnast.

[LisaL]

23. The gymnasts have so many injuries.

None of us have a clue as to what shape she will be in four years from now.

[amandabeech]

25. Literally and figuratively.

She may be less flexible and she may have to cope with a chest and hips, even if she has her injuries under her control.

[LisaL]

27. She could also have a growth spur.

Basically, in four years, it's quite possible she won't be a medal contender.

[amandabeech]

30. She sure could.

I don't know if you follow the lower levels of figure skating, but there are often superb, underdeveloped 14-year-olds skating at the Novice level. The girls are light across the ice, flexible and turn those triples faster than you can imagine. So many turn into beautiful young women who can't get off the ice for the life of them.

You can even see it with Kimmie Meisner. I saw her skating Novice. She was a toothpick and that lutz never failed her. She was able to keep it together for three years. Now she has hips and thighs, and it doesn't look good. Sarah Hughes started to have problems at 16, the year after her Olympic victory. I really admire those who can keep their jump content pretty much intact, while they develop the flow and musicality that often comes with experience.

[Arrowhead2k1]

31. The poor little girl who was taught to lie would certainly lose her medal.

But of course China and the adults behind this would truly take the blame. How embarrassing for China at their precious Beijing games. :rofl:

[WolverineDG]

33. She knows the rules too

so why should she get to keep her medals if she knew she wasn't old enough to compete? (if it turns out that she isn't 16 as the rules require)

dg

[Mike Daniels]

50. If she is underage she participated in the sham and is therefore complicit as well

Even if she wasn't in a position to flat out refuse to participate (and I'm sure she wasn't) she could have easily "choked" her events enough to remove her from serious medal position.

[LisaL]

59. I don't see how choking on the event is a good option for

anyone, especially in a team competition. I believe these girls very much want to compete to the best of their ability. They've trained basically their whole lives for it.

[1]

32. the ioc is not going to anything...

when i first heard of the 16yo rule watching gymnastics i was all, "ok, i can understand that logic." don't push the young ones too quick. don't screw them up.

and then the very next event i saw was platform diving. and one of the first contestants was a 14yo. all perfectly legal.


wtf?


hey, if you have a 16yo rule across the board then i have no problem with that. but a 16yo here? a 14yo there? no, nope, no way, no...


every event has a different age limit?


i watched the most beautiful 15yo chinese diver win the gold tonight.

i could never condone the removal of a gold medal from an athlete, that totally owned her sport, because her age in that sport was not enough to win a gold medal. yet younger competitors win gold medals in other sports.

no.

olympics? get your shit together. but don't punish competitors...

[WolverineDG]

34. Each sports federation sets its own rules & age requirements

so in gymnastics, they can do stupid stuff like refuse to give 2 gold medals when the scores are tied while the other sports allow for that "in the spirit of the Olympic Games."

dg

[1]

35. they can do. my guess? they won't do.... n/t.

[LostinVA]

53. I think they may be forced to, like the skating pairs debacle

They IOC and FIG don't like having too much light shone into their dark depths. They both suck, and they know gymnastics kinda sucks, because of how subjective the scoring is. The bigger the public outcry, the more they'll do something. It works in reverse, too: most of the public thought it was dumb that Canadian snowboarding had his medal taken away because he tested positive for pot, which wouldn't have enhanced his performance. The IOC accepted his silly "contact hight" story and gave him the medal back.

[Egnever]

36. I hate this

If she is the best let her compete. Dumb Rule IMHO

[quakerboy]

37. The arbitrariness of it bothers me

Why 16?

Though, I take that in the opposite direction from most here. I would advocate raising the age further. Say to the age of Majority. To the place where we know the competitors have at least a right to a choice. I have seen too many ambitious parents wreck children.

That said, the rules are what they are, and should be followed as such until changed. If she is younger and it is allowed to stand, that is not fair. Not to the 16 year olds, but to some American 14 Y/O who could have owned it. Or some Brit, Canadian, Italian, Insert country here. There are quite a few 14 year olds in the world, but if this is true, she was the only one given a crack at taking home a medal.

[Retrograde]

61. the whole "sport" is arbitrary

unlike most track and field events in which there is a well-defined, measurable way of determining the winner (e.g., who can jump/swim/throw stuff the furthest) gymnastics is scored based on a system of points, which changes over time. Right now, the system rewards tumbling and similar spectacular moves and is therefore biased towards the small barely-pubescent bodies we see today. It wasn't always like that: prior to Olga Korbut female gymnasts were more mature and much older, often in their twenties.

The international gymnastics governing board can and does ban certain moves. If they were interested in protecting growing children (has anyone done any studies on the long-term effects of over-training on elite female gymnasts?) they could revise their system to reward more graceful movements and a more mature body type. But that would wreak havoc on the ratings, no doubt. They can also ban the music and the make-up while they're at it.

IMHO, the current judging system is strongly biased towards the perceived "best" teams, currently the US, China, Romania and the ex-USSR. There may be many young women in <insert country here> who are as capable, or better, at some skills, but because the competition is judged have to overcome a starting bias in addition to just doing well.

[1]

41. see? no proof. no harm. no foul...

BEIJING (AP)—Despite persistent questions about the ages of several members of the Chinese women’s gymnastics team that won the gold medal, the International Olympic Committee said Friday there is still no proof anyone cheated and believes the controversy will be “put to rest.”

China has again given the governing body of gymnastics documents that show its athletes are eligible, and coach Lu Shanzhen said the girls’ families are “indignant” that the issue won’t go away.

“It’s not just me. The parents of our athletes are all very indignant,” Lu said in an interview with The Associated Press. “They have faced groundless suspicion. Why aren’t they believed? Why are their children suspected? Their parents are very angry.”

The IOC asked the International Gymnastics Federation to investigate “what have been a number of questions and apparent discrepancies,” spokeswoman Giselle Davies said. The FIG has said repeatedly that a passport is the “accepted proof of a gymnast’s eligibility,” and that China’s gymnasts have presented ones that show they are age eligible. The IOC also checked the girls’ passports and deemed them valid before the games began.


http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/gymnastics/news?slug=ap-gym-underagechinese&prov=ap&type=lgns

[eshfemme]

42. Finally! China already had a proven history of this with Yang Yun who medalled last time

with the "official" age of 16 but then who later confessed to being 14. I think I'm probably going to boycott the Summer Olympics from now on just because of the complete lack of enforcement the IOC has had for the rules.

[NewJeffCT]

45. It will be almost impossible to prove unless they confess

I'm sure making realistic fake passports and birth certificates are pocket change when your country spends over $40 billion for the Olympics.

[Sanctified]

43. They need to change the rules.

Since the Olympics only happen once every 4 years a lot of these girls get 1 shot at it unlike other sports, once they hit over 20 their career is pretty much done.

[NewJeffCT]

46. Can they prove she is younger? I doubt it

Unless He confesses, or somebody else involved with the Chinese gymnastics team does, I think it will be almost impossible to prove she is too young. It's not like a drug test.

[lanlady]

48. this is a positive development

Although it would devastate Ms He to be stripped of her medals, the rules need to be enforced. Cheating should not be rewarded with gold medals. It'll be a great day when the Chinese are called out on this crap.

[Codeine]

58. They won't be.

China owns the IOC lock, stock, and barrel. You know as well as I do they didn't get this Olympics without large amounts of cash changing hands.