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December 2, 2008 9:08:48 AM CST

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gymnast

gymnast news stories

12 Stories

 Officials Clear 
 Chinese Gymnasts 

But some of the 2000 competitors were too young, FIG says

Associated Press Associated Press Oct 1, 08 9:30 AM CDT
(AP) - 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. More »

More about:  China • 2008 Beijing Olympics • age • gymnastics • gymnast • Chinese athletes

OPINION

 In Age Flap, 
 IOC Lacks Spine 

Committee kowtows to organizers, sponsors on China's gymnasts

Washington Post Washington Post Aug 22, 08 4:58 PM CDT
(Newser) - After weeks of speculation about underage Chinese gymnasts and reports that at least two of them are not yet 16, the International Olympic Committee is investigating yet still sitting on its hands, Sally Jenkins writes in the Washington Post . The question “is whether the IOC is genuinely trying to govern in these Olympics, or whether it has become a mere bag man for Chinese organizers and corporate sponsors.” More »

olympics

 Johnson Nabs Gold on Beam

Wins in last women's gymnastics event

Associated Press Associated Press Aug 19, 08 7:40 AM CDT
(AP) - Shawn Johnson finally got her Olympic gold medal in the last event of the women's gymnastics competition today on the balance beam. When her routine, chock-full of difficult tricks, earned a 16.225, Johnson's grin was a thousand times wider than the 4-inch-wide beam she had just conquered.  More »

More about:  2008 Beijing Olympics • Beijing • gymnast • Shawn Johnson

olympics

Disappointment Has a Silver (Medal) Lining

As gymnast beats herself up, American fans go wild

San Diego Union-Tribune Aug 18, 08 5:45 PM CDT
(Newser) - 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." More »

More about:  2008 Beijing Olympics • gymnastics • gymnast • Alicia Sacramone

Olympics

Obscure Tiebreaker Gives China's He Gold Over Liukin

0.033 margin on deductions puts American in second place in uneven bars

New York Times New York Times Aug 18, 08 12:21 PM CDT
(Newser) - 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. More »

More about:  China • 2008 Beijing Olympics • gymnastics • gymnast • Nastia Liukin

Chinese News Agency
Put Gymnast's Age at 13


Associated Press Associated Press Aug 14, 08 8:00 PM CDT
(AP) - 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. More »

More about:  2008 Beijing Olympics • gymnastics • gymnast • Chinese athletes

 A 10 Won't Win
 Gym Gold
 in Beijing

New system eliminates 'perfect score' ceiling in gymnastics

New York Times New York Times Aug 6, 08 5:40 AM CDT
(Newser) - 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 . More »

More about:  2008 Beijing Olympics • gymnastics • gymnast • Paul Hamm

 Chinese Gymnasts
 May be Underage

Passports say girls are 16, but other documents put them at 14

New York Times New York Times Jul 27, 08 8:05 AM CDT
(Newser) - 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? More »

More about:  China • 2008 Beijing Olympics • age • gymnastics • passport • gymnast

City Rebuilds Flooded Gym
for Gymnast

US champion can't let anything distract her in Olympic trials

Houston Chronicle Houston Chronicle Jun 19, 08 11:31 AM CDT
(Newser) - 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 . More »

More about:  2008 Beijing Olympics • Iowa • athlete • flooding • gold medal • gymnastics • gymnast • Shawn Johnson

 Putin Blasts Remarriage Rumors 

Russian prez denies he's divorcing to wed ex-gymnast

BBC BBC Apr 18, 08 1:22 PM CDT
(Newser) - Vladimir Putin moved swiftly to put to rest rumors he was planning to divorce his wife to marry a 24-year-old former gymnast and current member of parliament. During a visit to Italy, the lame duck Russian president assured reporters that there was "not a single word of truth" to the tabloid story that broke yesterday, the BBC reports. More »

More about:  Russia • Vladimir Putin • marriage • divorce • gymnast • Lyudmila Putin • Alina Kabaeva

Star Gymnast Attracts Fans and Sponsors

Coke, Adidas love 16-year-old gold
medal favorite

Washington Post Washington Post Mar 1, 08 7:18 PM CST
(Newser) - 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. More »

More about:  2008 Beijing Olympics • Iowa • athlete • gold medal • gymnastics • gymnast • Shawn Johnson

Rookie Gymnast Vaults Her Rep

Shawn Johnson steals the spotlight

Washington Post Washington Post Aug 18, 07 12:53 PM CDT
(Newser) - 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. More »

More about:  2008 Beijing Olympics • Olympic Games • gymnastics • gymnast • Shawn Johnson

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