Beijing: 08-08-2008

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by pbear19

I was thinking about the possibility that some of the Chinese girls are under 16 last night, and actually feeling a bit sorry for them. Can you imagine if they are in fact too young? They will have to go through their whole lives living a lie about their age, knowing that they won a medal they didn't technically deserve. The likelihood that it was their choice to lie about their ages (if they have) is slim to none.

I know it's a different culture, but think about it in terms of the US. Your 18th and 21st birthdays are a lie, you "turn" 30, 40, 50 before you actually get there, you qualify for benefits at an earlier age than you deserve. For me the guilt and the need to keep up the ruse would take away all the joy of the medal.

So, I hope for their sakes that they really are all 16.

They won't lie about their ages their whole life.. probably only for the competitions. The "shelf life" of gymnasts probably isn't that long anyway since they [the country] will want to send their younger girls eventually since they are smaller, lighter, less afraid and all those other reasons they pick young girls.

There were many websites found with the real ages of some of those girls, and at least half of them are under 16. But they had passports (issued by the Government of course ) so they are able to compete. They will probably only use their fake age for another year or two for competitions only and by then China will have the next best girls to put in competitions.

And I don't know the Chinese culture, but I don't think they will feel bad about it when they grow up. It's just how they are condition them from infancy.

Take the little girl who sang their national anthem while the other "cuter, flawless" girl was the one on TV for the opening games. She singing girl said she didn't regret it and that it was "an honor" that they chose to use even just her voice.

It is really sad that they are taken from their families and only see them maybe once a year to be put in this 'machine', but their families are the ones who sent them there. Like someone has already mentioned the families know how lucrative it can be to have a gymnast son/daughter.