Beijing Olympics 2008

[leslina]

You also have to consider that the Chinese team plays at home. This makes a lot. It's a morale boost.

The Chinese gymnasts were superior. I'm not contesting that. Having said that, there's no need for the dishonesty. They would have won that team Gold with or without the tweens.

Oh-hoo... US has thrashed Greece in basket. Revenge is sweet, I suppose

And they play Spain next!

[Escriba]

I'm only hoping that we lose with dignity

[Elessar]

YAY Nastia Luikin and Shawn Johnson!!!!

My fam (and the American commentators) were starting to get so peeved at the judges for treating the Americans unfairly against the Chinese that the former gymnast guy went so far as to remind us, "Now, this is very odd, this scoring, but remember for those at home, just because we're in Beijing does not mean there are more Chinese judges on the scoring board than usual."

Btw, w/ the age thing again... apparently you don't have to be 16 just to compete, b/c it openly said that the Russian chick, Semenova, was 15. Is it just for the team event maybe? I liked her a lot more than the Chinese girl. She was flawless, she just didn't try as hard of maneuvers. I kinda think she should've gotten the bronze.

[leslina]

YAY Nastia Luikin and Shawn Johnson!!!!

My fam (and the American commentators) were starting to get so peeved at the judges for treating the Americans unfairly against the Chinese that the former gymnast guy went so far as to remind us, "Now, this is very odd, this scoring, but remember for those at home, just because we're in Beijing does not mean there are more Chinese judges on the scoring board than usual."

Btw, w/ the age thing again... apparently you don't have to be 16 just to compete, b/c it openly said that the Russian chick, Semenova, was 15. Is it just for the team event maybe? I liked her a lot more than the Chinese girl. She was flawless, she just didn't try as hard of maneuvers. I kinda think she should've gotten the bronze.

I was cringing the entire time. That judging was BLATANTLY favoring the Chinese gymnasts. But yes, YAY NASTIA AND SHAWN! I'd about died laughing when the male Gymnastics commentator said, "he'd fall dead on the floor"if Nastia didn't get higher score than the Chinese gymnast.

As for the age thing, a gymnast has to be 16 years old or TURNING 16 years old the year of the Olympics. The girls that ARE 15 will be turning 16 this year, but we all know those two Chinese girls Tuesday night were NO where even near 15.

[Elessar]

Here's a poorly written article on the whole underage Chinese Gymnasts issue.

http://www.comcast.net/articles/olympic ... e.Chinese/

It is certainly suspicious. IMHO, however, the age of the Chinese gymnasts doesn't actually matter. I understand it is an IOC rule. I don't necessarily agree with it. The long and short of it is...the current Chinese gymnastics team is better than the US gymnastics team. Individually, Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin can compete head-to-head with the Chinese, but team to team, the Chinese are superior.

So if, in a utopian world, it were proven the Chinese girls were 12-14 years old, what happens? Does the IOC strip their medals? Then what? The US gets gold this year and is absolutely crushed and dominated in London in 2012?

I sit on my couch and root loudly for the US, scream at the television, grumble about judging, etc. I am a true fan of the Olympics. I love just about everything about them...

...and the Chinese were better. I applaud their success.

But I'm sure going to be rooting hard for Shawn and Nastia tonight!!!

Eian

But if they ARE underage, it pisses the whole thing out the window because it all becomes a big game of tea leaf reading. "Well they're good, they'd probably be as good if they were 2 yrs older', etc. Well who knows, that's a complete shot in the dark. They're superior, but I think the point of the rule is b/c girls are better when they're younger, right? Pound for pound (or year for year, rather), the Americans might be just as good as the Chinese, if you could equalize them year for year. MIGHT. Guessing either way is still guess, so, in my view, IF they were underage, it tosses the whole discussion out the window. Do you take away the medals? Hell yes. Giving em to the US in the event they're disqualified isn't a statement of superiority of the US, it's a statement of "Hey China, don't lie about your team, this is what happens." I don't see the problem if the U.S. is "not as good" as the Chinese because you don't know how much of it is because they're just better, the Chinese, and how much of it is b/c they're younger, it's impossible to know.

[Escriba]

I suppose that know Bela Karolyi is silent and happy

"Well they're good, they'd probably be as good if they were 2 yrs older', etc. Well who knows, that's a complete shot in the dark. They're superior, but I think the point of the rule is b/c girls are better when they're younger, right? Pound for pound (or year for year, rather)

They are supposedly shorter and lighter, that's why (when you get older, you gain pounds and height). But with years you gain experience too. If a 13 years old girl beats you with difference that's mean that when she's 16 she's going to be even better (except if she injures herself seriously or she grows up to be a giant.) With 10 years she hasn't have enough time to train, so if somebody who has 4 years of training less than you beats you, that's something to be worried about.

Remember what Nadia Comaneci did when she was thirteen: http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=V5gR0g8lHIs&feature=related

By the way, in diving board there is a British 14 years old boy and nobody is saying a thing.

But, BUT, if you could prove they're underage (by the way, what a stupid expression: a 16 years old is underage legally), the IOC should take the medals away of China. It's the law. Except if somebody proves it years later, in that case no, because it never happens (not even with Chinese, North American, Canadian or even Spanish athletes).

Edit: Now that I surf the internet I've found this article. The Italian coach has a wonderful idea with the weights cathegory (that would fix the controversy). And he makes a gibe against US in the way

[Asso]

I enjoy to post these images.
I think they say a lot of things.

[thecursor]

I take back my previous statment: Phelps isn't better then Aquaman...Phelps IS Aquaman!

[Eian Flannagan]

With the momentum he has established, can he be beaten in his last two races? I understand that one is a relay, but even if the US loses that race, I'm willing to bet Phelps will still win his leg. The man is a machine.

Eian

[Escriba]

I take back my previous statment: Phelps isn't better then Aquaman...Phelps IS Aquaman!

Somebody should test this. Can he talk with fishes?

[thecursor]

How do you think he learned to swim like that? Clearly he was raised by Dolphins.

[leslina]

I take back my previous statment: Phelps isn't better then Aquaman...Phelps IS Aquaman!

Oh yeah, when NBC did that physiological break down of Phelp's body and how adept it is for swimming I snorted my Pepsi. Wonder if he's got that sonar capability.

[Escriba]

So he is the sea equivalent of Mowgli or Tarzan. Cool

[Escriba]

Nadal vs Djokovic. I'm leaving my fingernails here...

[Escriba]

Nadal won!!! Wo-hoooo!!! He's going to fight for the gold!!!

Yeah, I know that this to the people in US is nothing, with the one million and half medals you already have in this competition, but for us is amazing!!