Monday, August 11, 2008

China dolls

There is no way the Chinese female gymnasts are all 16 years of age.

BEIJING -- Chinese officials on Monday denied reports that a female gymnast had been entered for the Beijing Olympics despite being under the minimum age of 16.

Media reports in the U.S., citing online registration records, said China team member Yang Yilin was still 14. The report came a week after accusations that her team mates He Kexin and Jiang Yuyuan were also under 16.
Um, 14? One of them looks 10!

He is expected to challenge Nastia Luken of the U.S.
for the individual gold on uneven bars.
In Chinese newspaper profiles this year, He was listed as 14, too young for the Beijing Games.

The Times found two online records of official registration lists of Chinese gymnasts that list He’s birthday as Jan. 1, 1994, which would make her 14. A 2007 national registry of Chinese gymnasts — now blocked in China but viewable through Google cache — shows He’s age as “1994.1.1.”

Another registration list that is unblocked, dated Jan. 27, 2006, and regarding an “intercity” competition in Chengdu, China, also lists He’s birthday as Jan. 1, 1994. That date differs by two years from the birth date of Jan. 1, 1992, listed on He’s passport, which was issued Feb. 14, 2008.
Nastia better get nasty and bust out the big guns. Ain't no way she's losing to a 14 year old.

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