Anyone looking forward to the Olympics at all?

[LisaS]

I understand that logic (developmental concerns) but I'm not sure I buy that it practice - does the governing body think that 13-14 yo in the gym are not training and learning and doing the tricks that the 15-16 yo are competing with - in any country?

As far as the fearless factor goes - they allow the 14 yo to dive off the 10m platform if they perform at a suitable level to be competitive - as far as I have heard it is just gymnastics has this later age limit.

Also - if it wasn't being done for competitive advantage - why do it? No reason. So the international body is essentially saying that to have the best compete might be putting them at developmental risk so we will restrict to older, less competitive athletes.

-- note -- I'm not making that argument, I'm just asking if that is the argument/reasoning.

[JavaJunkie]

Oh I agree that they're doing it in gyms and in the privacy of their own homes etc. (I have wonderfully screwed up knees, ankles and feet to prove it!), I can't come up with a reason for setting the limit though, when they know people are using it elsewhere.

hmm... yeah i see your last point.

I do'nt know why else they'd do it, it just bugs me that they aren't playing by the rules. But such is life!

[RacerBill]

Prepubescent kids (particularly girls) tend to be more flexible since the bones and connective tissues are less developed. That's where the competetive advantage comes in.

There were growing concerns through the 70s and 80s that young kids were sustaining training injuries from being pushed into elite gymnastics very early, when their bodies were flexible enough for finesse work, but lacked the solidity for explosive movements. The FIG responded by raising the competition age to 14, then 16.

[kuri]

Uh oh - the Olympic boxing scandal is blowing up with accusations from inside of massive corruption. Not surpising at all seeing as the reffing and judging has been beyond terrible - I stopped watching matches at all.

[LisaS]

team synchronized swimming AND individual rhythmic gymnastics today! good thing I have DVR

[JavaJunkie]

Apparently the IOC is looking into the gymnasts ages again - or so our paper claimed. The Chinese aren't happy about producing the documents a second time, but I'm happy someone is at least asking.