The Continued Fallout Over a Gymnast’s Face

So age is just a number, right? Not so for Chinese gymnasts whose parents and coaches are pushing them to start as soon as possible. In fact, the age of one gymnast in particular, He Kexin, is now the subject of an intense IOC investigation.

According to a report by Fox News, in a surprise announcement, the IOC wants to “put to rest” questions about He’s age. According to Giselle Davies, “We believe that the matter will be put to rest and there’s no question…on the eligibility. The information (that) we have received seems (to be) satisfactory in terms of the correct documentation – including birth certificates”.

This issue has created a media storm blitz. According to Chinese gymnastics coach Lu Shanzan in an interview with The Associated Press, “It’s not just me. The parents of our athletes are all very indignant. They have faced groundless suspicion. Why aren’t they believed? Why are their children suspected? They are all very angry”.

In response to the gymnasts’ small size, Lu snapped “At this competition, the Japanese gymnasts were just as small as the Chinese. Chinese gymnasts have for years all been small. It is not just this time. It is a question of race. European and American athletes are all powerful, very robust. But Chinese athletes cannot be like that. They are by nature very small”.

How about the allegation that He, Yang and another gymnastics team member might be as young as 14? “If you trust every web-site, but not a government…, There are so many web-sites, so much hearsay. These are not official. It is possible that all information on the internet is accurate?” The answer to this question? No, but another question for the Chinese government is “Is everything that you say accurate?”

According to various media reports, including the state-run Xinhua news agency, He was born on New Year’s Day, 1994, making her 14, Yang’s date of birth is August 26, 1993, making her 15 and Jiang Yuyuan could potentially be as young as 14, according to registration lists in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

The US Olympic Committee is assisting Liukin in this matter. According to USOC chief executive Jim Scherr, “We certainly believe that it’s important for the IOC and international federation to review the issue and hopefully, lay (put) it to rest because the questions surrounding the age of some of the athletes have been out there for quite some time and it’s unfair to them (the Chinese) and unfair to the other athletes (for this issue) to continue to linger. So we’ve sent a letter to the IOC and to the international federation asking them to review the matter and see if they can’t resolve it for the good of the competition, the integrity of the competition and the good of all the athletes”. OK, although this statement is also somewhat on the side of the Chinese authorities (which isn’t right), at least it stands up for Liukin, which the other statements do not.

Liukin’s father, Valerie, who is also her coach, lashed out at the IOC, upon arriving back home in the US: “We played fair at this Olympic Games. If somebody cheated, (then) shame on them”. Valerie Liukin has every right/excuse to be angry here. He has been told that the Chinese won because they are “naturally” smaller (and therefore) fitter than Americans. Are the Chinese suggesting then, that Americans are “naturally” fat and out of shape because they are bigger?

The IOC has also offered a shockingly meek explanation. According to Andre Gueisbuhler, secretary-general of the Federation of International Gymnasts (FIG), “For the time being, there is nothing (that) I can add”. If this is the only thing that they can say about this case, this is disgraceful. Just look at her face. This face is the face of an 11, a 12 or a 13-year-old. If she really is 16, why is this not revealed in her passport? Someone must be keeping a dark secret.