But some of the 2000 competitors were too young, FIG says
Associated Press Oct 1, 08 9:30 AM CDT
(AP)
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China's 2008 gold medal gymnasts are in the clear, after international gymnastics officials said today the documentation provided confirms the women were old enough to compete. But the Chinese team that won the bronze medal 8 years ago still faces questions about the age of two competitors.
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OLYMPICS
US computer experts uncovers Chinese documentation listing age as 14
Times (UK) Aug 22, 08 3:53 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The International Olympic Committee has launched an investigation to determine if Chinese gymnastics gold medalist He Kexin is under the minimum age of 16, after a computer security expert turned up a document indicating that she's 14. Mike Walker yesterday posted an account of his search, in which he found official records listing her date of birth as January 1, 1994, on his website, reports the Times of London.
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olympics
As gymnast beats herself up, American fans go wild
San Diego Union-Tribune Aug 18, 08 5:45 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Despite failing to win an individual medal, and her tearful insistence that she cost the US the team gold, gymnast Alicia Sacramone is enjoying wild popularity among fans across the world, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. "I guess it's kind of surprising,” said Sacramone, who has climbed as high as fourth ("volcanic") on Google Trends, "because I didn't have that good an outcome here."
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Olympics
0.033 margin on deductions puts American in second place in uneven bars
New York Times Aug 18, 08 12:21 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Chinese gymnast He Kexin won a gold medal on the women’s uneven bars today, despite exactly same score as American Nastia Liukin, the New York Times reports. Liukin and He each scored 16.725, but since gymnastics no longer gives out dual medals, He was awarded the gold, thanks to a lower average deduction total—a margin of just 0.033.
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olympics
Daughter scores gymnastics gold as silver medalist father watches
Sydney Morning Herald Aug 15, 08 2:42 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Growing up in Texas, Nastia Liukin eyed her father's four Olympic gold medals, won for his gymnastics exploits as a USSR star. But one always eluded him: the all-around individual medal, which he came within a tenth of a point of in 1988. "I hope that I made up for that and I hope that he feels just as as proud as I am," Nastia said today after capturing the prize, the Canberra Times reports.
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OLYMPICS
Liukin takes gold, Johnson silver to China's bronze
USA Today Aug 15, 08 6:33 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Americans Nastia Liukin and Shawn Johnson captured the gold and silver medals in the women’s gymnastics all-around competitions, marking the first time US gymnasts have taken the top two spots, USA Today reports. Liukin’s standout balance-beam routine and focus on artistic elements helped lead her to victory with a score of 63.325. The bronze went to Yang Yilin of China.
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Associated Press Aug 14, 08 8:00 PM CDT
(AP)
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Just 9 months before the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese government's news agency, Xinhua, reported that gymnast He Kexin was 13, which would have made her ineligible to be on the team that won a gold medal this week. In its report Nov. 3, Xinhua identified He as one of "10 big new stars" who made a splash at China's Cities Games. It gave her age as 13 and reported that she beat Yang Yilin on the uneven bars at those games.
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Olympics
Second-place US thinks Chinese girls too young
New York Times Aug 13, 08 7:46 AM CDT
(Newser)
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China’s women bested the defending champion US women to take their first gymnastics gold medal today, as the Americans stumbled and the younger, smaller Chinese gymasts won a comfortable lead. But the victory came amid continuing charges that the Chinese competitors—who average 4 foot 9 and 77 pounds—are under the legal age of 16.
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New system eliminates 'perfect score' ceiling in gymnastics
New York Times Aug 6, 08 5:40 AM CDT
(Newser)
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When gymnasts take to the vault and the uneven bars at this summer's Olympics, viewers will notice a major change to the scoring: the perfect 10 has been eliminated. For the first time at the Games, gymnastics will be assessed on a scale with no ceiling, with gold medalists expected to receive a mark of 17. The new, supposedly fairer system has divided the sport, reports the New York Times .
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Break won't heal in time for US star to defend
'04 all-around gold
Associated Press Jul 28, 08 1:07 PM CDT
(AP)
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Paul Hamm will not be going to the Beijing Olympics to defend his all-around gold medal, the US gymnast announced today, because his broken right hand has not healed sufficiently. He also hurt his rotator cuff in his accelerated recovery effort. "I have put my heart and soul into my comeback and done everything I could to get ready in time to compete in Beijing," Hamm said in a statement.
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Passports say girls are 16, but other documents put them at 14
New York Times Jul 27, 08 8:05 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Two of China's Olympic gymnasts may be younger than the cutoff age of 16, although their passports indicate otherwise, the New York Times reports. He Kexin and Jiang Yuyuan both hold papers citing 1991 birthdates, but previous competition records indicate they may be just 14. Why would China want to slip younger gymnasts onto its team?
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US champion can't let anything distract her in Olympic trials
Houston Chronicle Jun 19, 08 11:31 AM CDT
(Newser)
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When storms inundated Shawn Johnson's hometown of West Des Moines, they also left a foot of water in her gym. But the 16-year-old couldn't use that as an excuse to take a break from workouts: The reigning world champion gymnast was preparing for this week’s Olympic trials, the Houston Chronicle reports .
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Injuries on the rise; recent death highlights concerns
ABC News Apr 19, 08 1:11 PM CDT
(Newser)
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As cheerleading has become a spectacle of acrobatic feats with its own events, injuries—some of them deadly—have been on the rise, ABC News reports. In the latest example, a 20-year-old woman died after being accidentally kicked in the chest during a Massachusetts competition last weekend. She suffered damage to her lungs more often seen in car crashes.
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Coke, Adidas love 16-year-old gold
medal favorite
Washington Post Mar 1, 08 7:18 PM CST
(Newser)
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Corporate sponsors like Adidas and Coca-Cola are latching onto a tiny gymnast with a towering talent named Shawn Johnson, the Washington Post reports. The smiling 16-year-old shares "brand attributes" with Coca-Cola like "genuine" and "fun," one exec says. She is also the world's reigning gymnastics champion and gold-medal favorite in Beijing this year.
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Famed arena may get small improvements or even a reconstruction
Los Angeles Times Feb 27, 08 2:37 AM CST
(Newser)
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There is no question UCLA's Pauley Pavilion needs a makeover, but Bruin Nation is in an all-out debate as to whether it just needs some Botox or whether the old girl needs a complete facelift, reports the Los Angeles Times . Changes on the table for the famed Westwood Arena range from a corporate name change, to upgraded locker rooms and fan areas, to even building a whole new facility.
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Shawn Johnson steals the spotlight
Washington Post Aug 18, 07 12:53 PM CDT
(Newser)
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The USA Gymnastics team is rolling out a new megastar for Beijiing 2008: Shawn Johnson, a 4'10" 15-year-old who's been racking up gold medals at national and international championships even while finishing high school. But Johnson has only been on the national team for 10 months, and she's still getting used to being in the spotlight, the Washington Post reports.
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