Re: On the Olympic gymnasts and their ages

well, i think of it this way.. the age restrictions are like weight limits in boxing.

a 11/13 year old is smaller, lighter, and more flexable than some one who is 16+. This means that the smaller girl, in moves that requier movment (most gymnast thigns do) they have a smaller mass, with relitivly the same muscle as an older girl... so, they flip, tumble, and land more lightly, and with greater ease than the older girls--in short, they can do things the older girls can--and that just sint fair to EITHER of them.

the skill level of a 16 year old gymnast (shawn was SOOO CUTE!! OMG!) is outstanding in its own right, and, if no one younger than 16 comeptes, she's a world class athleate. the same is true for a 12 year old--who may be able to do things the 16 year old cannot--she can fly higher, turn faster, land lighter... and, when she's 16, she wont be able to do any of those things like she did when she was 12, even if she has twice the skills.

the age split is like a difference in weight classes for boxers--there's a reason it should be there.

but, that said, i dont think it's fair to eliminate them from the olimpics--these are supposed to be THE BEST of the best of world class athleats, abd be they 4 or 400, age shouldnt matter. if they're the best, they should be there.

age limits isnt about over training... shawn, the cutie from the US started at 5?6? ... and these age limits have been around since 1997, so, she and her parents trained knowing they'd have a wait... she was prolly better @ 13 than she is now... but, atleast she had a level playing feild to compete ... IF those darn chinese cuties wernt so dard good.

meh, oh wells.