[Peterli]

I saw it too.

It's crazy that they only see their parents once a year from the age of 3. China is one fucked up place. The Olympics are great, but to take kids away from their families is nuts. Even worse is the families tell them they have to stay there, to make their lives better.

Ah, dont give them too much credit. They are just copying the Soviet model of making athletes. For some reason communist regimes really care about being the best in the Olympics.

Someone else mentioned this being the biggest thing in Chinesse history. I have heard that recently too. And I dont buy it. Chinesse histroy is long and deep and full of important events. I think what is meant is this is the biggest thing in recent or contemporary Chinesse history. I think the "buzz" machine at NBC is just over amping that.

[DialOne]

http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer...ory?id=3534544

Earlier state media report listed gymnast He's age as 13

Associated Press

Updated: August 14, 2008, 10:02 AM ET

BEIJING -- 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. She 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.
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."

[AndrewBoss]

I had a hard time reading that story. Her name is He. I kept getting confused.

[krasniyluch]

I had a hard time reading that story. Her name is He. I kept getting confused.

I had the same problem.

My thoughts were "Not only are they underage but are males as well"

[Ruiceara]

No more 11 year olds.

[lXwVlTgO]

Nastia 1st
Shawn 2nd
Chinese girl 3rd


Damn straight!

[Aozenee]

2 more years...

[Orefsmisits]

2 more years...

At least there's Nastia and Sacramone...

[pataagusata]

2 more years...

My parents live about 5 miles from West Des Moines. I bet my wife wouldn't mind either because we could carry her around in my pocket and pull her out when we need her.

That's a tiny bitch right there.

[benderkoz]

My parents live about 5 miles from West Des Moines. I bet my wife wouldn't mind either because we could carry her around in my pocket and pull her out when we need her.

That's a tiny bitch right there.

Yet her legs are bigger than a lot of guys.

[icyfreshy]

Yet her legs are bigger than a lot of guys.

Don't get me wrong, she could donkey kick me to death. But she's no taller than some of those 4 year old Chinese gymnasts.

Put a fake beard and a pointy hat on her and she could stand on my lawn and be confused with a lawn gnome.

[Aozozbag]

Don't get me wrong, she could donkey kick me to death. But she's no taller than some of those 4 year old Chinese gymnasts.

Put a fake beard and a pointy hat on her and she could stand on my lawn and be confused with a lawn gnome.

Definitely. My girlfriend is short and she would tower over Shawn.

[opelayday]

At least there's Nastia and Sacramone...

I dont like losers

[ThekvandoVideo]

I dont like losers

Pfft, she's now depressed. That's the time to pounce. When they're feeling good about themselves women tend to have standards.

Bitches.

[MpbY5dkR]

I kept saying last night that she's the kind of girl you'd want as a daughter. She just looks sweet and nice.

Nastia? She looks like she'd be like her name sounds. Nasty and bitchy.

[Garry Richardson]

I kept saying last night that she's the kind of girl you'd want as a daughter. She just looks sweet and nice.

Nastia? She looks like she'd be like her name sounds. Nasty and bitchy.

She is Russian, that might have something to do with it. They tend to look a little meaner. I know their speech sounds like they are pissed off all the time.

[Metalhead]

She is Russian, that might have something to do with it. They tend to look a little meaner. I know their speech sounds like they are pissed off all the time.

Her voice didn't sound it, but the whole time she was on camera, I kept thinking about that movie Mean Girls.

[amagmasia]

Shawn Johnson gets her first gold......Congrats Shawn!!

She's just too cute!

http://www.nbcolympics.com/gymnastic...html?GT1=39003

[AccusaJalsBub]

Her voice didn't sound it, but the whole time she was on camera, I kept thinking about that movie Mean Girls.

Oh Jesus Christ. You too??

All you women are so damn catty! I have had the same conversation with my wife for a week! She thinks she is a bitch, a mean girl. When watching the all around my wife said this girl literally scares the shit out of her. And I am married to a tough ass LOL

But really. I think she is a snob. I think her family does pretty OK (segment last night showed her an Dad in the boat, driving in the Porshe). That could explain it a little.

But what I saw was a girl who TOTALLY had her game face on. I mean INTENSE! I actually thought for a bit in the all around she would psyche herself out. The fact she did not was her biggest win.

Anyway she is a sweet, sweet girl who is just an intense competitor. Dont perpetuate the double standards your gender has fought to overcome. When a man is intense and strong and all business he might be a dick, but he is also respected for his toughness. Should be the same all around

And the over/under on pics/video of A-Sac (thank ill, I am using it) to surface is 3 months. And I might take the under

[sXVUOUVC]

It is crazy that the US didn't win team gold considering they seem to have without a doubt the top two in the world.