China won the gold medal for the women’s gymnastics team event Wednesday and the controversy over some team member’s age came under the spotlight again.
Gymnasts He Kexin, Jiang Yuyuan, and Yang Yilin changed their ages to meet the minimum requirement for Olympic competition eligibility, according to a report by CNN on August 13.
Other media including the Associated Press and New York Times revealed before the Olympic opening ceremony that two Chinese girl gymnasts were only 13 last year as stated by Chinese news services. But the passports presented to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) show they are 16 years old, and the IOC has accepted them as valid proof.
The Chinese communist regime has denied changing the age of the gymnasts in their passports.
The Epoch Times has conducted research to verify reports.
He Kexin’s name is mentioned in a roster of athletes competing in a local sports event published on January 27, 2006 on Chengdu Sports Bureau’s official website. Under the gymnastics category, He Kexin, gymnast No. 10, is listed as born on January 1, 1994.
According to a report by China Daily on May 23, 2008, He Kexin had just turned 14. “This 14-year-old gymnast joined the national team for training last year, but she has attracted enough attention in the past few months,” the report stated.
Gymnasts He Kexin, Jiang Yuyuan, and Yang Yilin changed their ages to meet the minimum requirement for Olympic competition eligibility, according to a report by CNN on August 13.
Other media including the Associated Press and New York Times revealed before the Olympic opening ceremony that two Chinese girl gymnasts were only 13 last year as stated by Chinese news services. But the passports presented to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) show they are 16 years old, and the IOC has accepted them as valid proof.
The Chinese communist regime has denied changing the age of the gymnasts in their passports.
The Epoch Times has conducted research to verify reports.
He Kexin Only 14 Years Old in May 2008
He Kexin’s name is mentioned in a roster of athletes competing in a local sports event published on January 27, 2006 on Chengdu Sports Bureau’s official website. Under the gymnastics category, He Kexin, gymnast No. 10, is listed as born on January 1, 1994.
According to a report by China Daily on May 23, 2008, He Kexin had just turned 14. “This 14-year-old gymnast joined the national team for training last year, but she has attracted enough attention in the past few months,” the report stated.
