Gymnastics

[hikertrash]

The coverage of the women's qualifications was super annoying. They only showed the US and China, then cut to another event, saying "We'll be back with the Russian women," then when they came back all they showed was a fluff piece on Chusovitina, plus her vault. Did I miss something? I didn't see any Russians competing.

[OnyxRose]

They showed Ksenia Semenova and Anna Pavlova's floor. All of the routines for each subdivision are online at nbc online in case you want to see it.

I hate NBC broadcasts as well but in this case I don't think they could show much. Much of the swimming and everything was broadcast live.

You can only use alternates if you put them on the roster 24 hours before the competition begins. Sam injured herself on the last tumbling pass before prelims so they couldn't. The alternates are in Japan anyway. Also, our alternates are pretty much useless.

[bklynred]

Aug 11, 2008 8:37:20 GMT -4 hikertrash said:

I think they're waiting to see if Peszek will be able to compete Tuesday. She landed her dismount off the bars with no problem, so I think they're hoping the ankle will get better for the team finals.

I think it's pretty much a proven fact that He Kexin is 14, but since no other countries filed an official complaint with the FIG, she gets to compete.

Do you think other countries are quieting their complaints because China is hosting? Does it seem like bad form? Just curious. Are there bigger things to complain about (mostly steroids)?

[canuckcutie]

I think the Gymnastics Federation response was that the gymnasts in questions all had passports confirming their ages as 16 and above so they were fine. Not like the Chinese government could fudge a passport or anything.............................

[hikertrash]

Do you think other countries are quieting their complaints because China is hosting? Does it seem like bad form? Just curious. Are there bigger things to complain about (mostly steroids)?

Everything I've read about it says it would be bad form to lodge a formal complaint about an underage athlete from any country. I guess it would make the complaining country look like they're trying to screw up another country's medal chances or make them look like they're trying to police the Games or something.

The NBC commentators are pretty snarky about it, and Bela Karolyi has been calling them "14 and 15 year olds" really casually when talking to Bob Costas. I think it's safe to say that everyone knows that several of those girls are under 16, but no one can really do anything about it now.

[bklynred]

Thanks for the info!

[topwesselton]

I watched all the gymnastics live streamed via Saudi Arabia's tv station. It was way better coverage then NBC. Here's the link in case any of you want to use it for event finals:
LINK[/color]
The website is a little sketchy at first glance, but I dunno, I've been using it all week and my computer is still fine.

[Oxynia]

Guys, please use the proper tags for linking. They're in the FAQs, where they've always been. Thanks.

[Deleted]

Aug 11, 2008 8:37:20 GMT -4 hikertrash said:

I think it's pretty much a proven fact that He Kexin is 14, but since no other countries filed an official complaint with the FIG, she gets to compete.

Just out of curiosity, because I've seen this brought up in a couple of places, what were the FIG/IOC supposed to do? My understanding is that the US complained, the FIG investigated, the Chinese produced documents, and that's the end of it. A passport seems like it should have more weight than a statement (found onlilne) by the head of a junior Chinese competition a few years ago. Is there more evidence? Official birth certificates would have settled it once and for all, but China doesn't issue official birth certificates.

With their adoption of a Soviet-style training system, the Chinese talent pool is so large that I don't think they would have any problems finding an of-age gymnast. I know they look very young, but really, that doesn't mean anything. I once had someone ask me what high school I went to well after I had graduated college.)

For the record, I do think a couple of the Chinese athletes are underage, but no one has any evidence that would trump a passport, and I'm uncomfortable with USAG (especially the Karolyis) making such a stink about it now. Underage Chinese gymnasts certainly didn't bother them during the Worlds a few years ago when China wasn't a gold medal threat.

The whole over-16 rule is so stupid. I wish they would just get rid of it, since it clearly hasn't achieved what it was supposed to.

[Deleted]

My problem with the under age thing is just that it's not playing by the "rules." It's cheating and it goes against the whole spirit of the games. If China does indeed have underage gymnasts, then they should be stripped of their medals, regardless of who came in 2nd. I would feel the same way if it was someone other than the US.

It's because they won the gold that it's under so much scrutiny and USAG is making a stink about it. If they won by cheating, how is that fair?

Unfortunately, unless one of the gymnasts admits it, they'll get away with it. The Chinese government can issue a passport to someone saying they're whatever age the government wants them to be.