Overstating the Underage?

I was feeling very nostalgic looking at some Beijing Olympic videos today. It was one for the books, not only for the spectacular show by the Chinese, but all the drama that went down- mainly the dodgy activities of the Chinese officials!

One of my favourite scandals was the allegations shot at gymnastics gold medallist He Kexin (pictured above) claiming she was competing at the ripe age of 14. Only 10 days ago did she finally get cleared of charges by the IOC of competing underage (16 is legal age) despite very convincing evidence that indicates otherwise. But despite all the heat and drama, I can't help but take a revisionist standpoint and question why Kexin competing underage was really such a huge drama.

It made me wonder, are age restrictions really necessary?

So to refesh your memory, during the Olympics speculation about Kexin's age made for headline news, which then called for an "emergency investigation" by the IOC after she had won her first gold. Many people were appauled by the alleged cover-up.

Former gym champion Bela Karolyi made this very firey comment to the Los Angeles Times:

"These people think we are stupid...We are in the business of gymnastics. We know what a kid of 14 or 15 or 16 looks like. What kind of slap in the face is this? They are 12, 14 years old and they get lined up and the government backs them and the federation runs away. There is an age limit and it can't be controlled."

What I don't understand is, why is it such a big deal that 14 year olds compete? I understand she breached the rules, but really, is this 14 year old really at such an advantage to justify her being potentially stripped of her medals?

In terms of Kexin, it's not as she's on the roids, and she hasn't bribed the judges- her only crime was (allegedly) competing underage, and yet she was one of the biggest scandals to come out of the Olympics. Thirty-eight thousand google listing of pages responding to "He Kexin underage" is evidence of this. If she is indeed 14, she goes in with less experience than the older girls, and a somatotype which would bear no advantage to the musculature and skills of a girl at 16+. Although I have been told her youthful lightness could serve as an unfair advantage, I question whether these are legitimate grounds for restricting younger competitors, considering that perhaps there would be many 16 year olds lighter than her, and yet thus allowed to compete.

I say:

"Leave He Kexin allloooonnneeeee"

I will even go so far as to suggest that perhaps age restrictions should be done away with, and instead the competitor be judged solely on their ability. Say Kexin is 14, which I believe many people are still convinced of, then isn't it more of a scandal that the IOC would stop this extremely gifted gymnast, who has proven herself as number 1 in the world, from competing on the grounds of her age!? I have heard arguments that 14 is too young because they are not ready for it etc, but what gives the rule makers authority to judge these athletes maturity and psychology?

This video has a cool discussion on the issue: (Just a head up, the introduction of this clip is tragically stupid, so skip to 1:04 mark if you don't want your intellegence insulted)

- Watch a funny movie here'>ftp://
Too Old (or Too Young) for the Olympics? - Watch a funny movie here

Let me know your thoughts!