The news that China’s Dong Fangxiao lost her bronze medal from the Sydney Olympics today should leave us all with mixed feelings really. The young gymnast stood with pride on the Olympic podium beaming those 10 years ago, only now to be stripped of what she earned. Sure some will say she obtained her medal outside the rules, but just whose fault is this? I don’t know which is worse, Chinese leaders getting off the hook for entering the child, or American poor sports gloating. Win at all costs I guess.
The Chinese officials provided all the documentation at the time of the gymnastics competitions, not only the Olympics but all the qualifying ones too. Passports, id cards, photos, and etc., to let a 14 year old girl put her name, her life, and her heart on the line. Now the USA’s Dominque Dawes will be entered into the record books. Funny, do you know what she said when told of the news? Justice prevailed. Did it now? Well, not if the Chinese Olympic organizers’ feet are not held to the fire.
The minimum age for Olympic gymnasts was changed while Dong Fangxiao was training to be an Olympian, in case you wondered. In 1997, in their infinite wisdom, the IOC passed down that decree. Not that I totally agree with 14 year old kids competing any more than with the IOC and their denizens blaming Nodar Kumaritashvili for his own death (no I ain’t never lettin go of this), but changing ages in mid stream pretty much canceled a few dozen dreams I bet. Nadia Comăneci if you will remember, was 14 when she swept the world off its feet in Montreal.
China’s idea of fair play, whether we are talking human rights or IMF transactions, is just plain bad sportsmanship down the line. About the only thing that seems fair in China are the hard working people under the thumbs of Medieval warlords. Yeah I know, everyone is playing nice with them for now. But, this is just another example of how the IOC works things. Hunt down this 14 year old kid’s great grand-pappy, or her blog post about being born in the year of the ox, whatever they did to discover her real age – blame her, tarnish her, damn a little kid to the deepest quarter of hell for athletes – and make another deal with Chinese business men. The IOC way of justice.
I do not know what justice could have been better served, it is obvious Dawes should have taken the medal, I guess. Well, she did get beaten by a 14 year old? Didn’t she? I don’t know how that one should play out. I just know Dong Fangxiao just got hammered and those big men on either side of the equation just sip their cognac. What a waste of air the IOC and all their cronies are. Don’t worry though, this old footballer ain’t done with them yet. Nodar is going to get his apology, or my grandchildren will be cataloging what is rapidly becoming the “Nolympic Games” organization. Phil out for now.
Feature image of Nadia Nadia Comăneci from Time.
About Phil Butler
Ok. Let’s see. In neither of your replies to my posts have you even come close to conducting yourself in the true sportsmanlike manner you’ve put others to task for.
No, you haven’t admitted to or apologized for any misspeaking or using misusing facts, intentional or otherwise. You’re still sticking to condemning the IOC by labelling them as unscrupulous business people. Perhaps you could enlighten us by giving some substantiated facts regarding their behavior in this case? No?
I see that rather than do that, you’ve replied “with the bravado and crassness of trailer park whores.” One of those who live by the words, “Do as I say, not as I do.”
Well done, Mr. Twisty. Well done.
@John D, uhum!
What a twister you are. Is there anywhere I wrote where I disagreed with your observation about Dominique Dawes’s commnents? No. I didn’t bring that up at all.
Was Dominique’s commnent the only point of your missive? Doesn’t look like it. Rather, it also looks like you’re accusing the IOC of blaming, tarnishing and damning a kid via a rule they set up.
So how do you defend yourself? By juvenile remarks like, “Waaah!” as if to make it seem I’m whining, and saying I “misunderstood.”
Apparently you didn’t get my point. I’m saying the Chinese carried out a lie for the entire lifetime of Dong Fangxiao. However you used the false argument that her ability to compete in the Olympics was because of a rules change by the IOC during her training up to them.
First the rules change didn’t affect her at all. She would not have been eligible to compete even before the change. And second, the IOC did not make the rule. Do I need to say that again? The IOC did not make the rule. So regardless of how the IOC found out Dong Fangxiao’s true age, they acted correctly when they did.
I’m not saying that the IOC never gets involved in conspiracies or shady dealings. I am saying that in this case, you have no case in disparaging them or portraying them as one of the bad guys in Dong Fangxiao’s situation.
I have not misunderstood anything. But your reply did make me aware of who truly is crying out “Waaah!”
Maybe I should make myself clear. Let me say that again. Maybe I should make myself clear. Upholding the rules, once they are made rules, is absolutely appropriate. The way this is done, the attitude, makes all the difference sometimes. The IOC is full to the top with unscrupulous business people who would sell out for a tuna sandwich in my view. As for the American gymnastics ladies? Gloating, smart assed, spoiled little shits that some of them are, bad sport comes to mind. This is what the article was about in the first place.
Now there, how much less “twisty” is that. LMAO
Always,
Phil
You should research more before you start blaming the IOC for dashing any dreams. You indicated that the minimum competition age was raised to 16 in 1997 but you failed to mention that the minimum age prior to that was 15. The 58th Congress of the FIG (Federation Internationale de Gymnastique, the body that regulates all aspects of international elite competition) held in July 1980, just before the Olympics, decided to raise the minimum age limit for major international senior competition from 14 to 15. The IOC did not make or change the age rule. Rather, they adhere to the FIG rules.
Dong Fangxiao’s participation as a gymnast in the 2000 Olymplics was illegal even before she was born.
Hi John D. What can I say? Whaaah! I don’t think you got the point at all. It is okay, I understand. Let’s just say after all my “research” about the IOC, that if they are involved in something, it stinks. How’s that for transparency? It is not always what happens, but the way it happens. Imagine two winners. One exhibits the true spirit of excellence, the other? Well, let’s say that winner just got it any way they could, took it, flaunted it, rubbed it in everyone’s face, and then rubbed some more.
I would tell you the face these people should put on if they want to be excellent, but that too would be misunderstood I fear. Let’s just say these things should be done reluctantly, handled carefully, and not with the bravado and crassness of trailer park whores. More transparent I know, but I am about sick of false gods.
Phil out,
China is the one responsible for the age lying. They most likely lied in 2008 too.
Also if you remember correctly, the women’s gymnastics competition in Sydney was a total joke. The All-Around was messed up by some moron setting the vaulting horse too low. Then the one gymnast, who was short enough that this didn’t matter, won the AA gold only to lose it due to taking cold medicine.
So since Andrea Raducan had to give back the gold, the Chinese women need to give back the bronze.
I am with you AndreaU8. No doubt the rules are the rules. But, being gracious is another thing. The IOC never should have changed that age old limit in the first place. It was no doubt strategic any way. As for the Americans, it is bad form to talk about other people cheating, just shut up, say it is unfortunate, and take your medal. This is what I was trying to say. The tine amount of ephedrine in Nerofen is ridiculous any way too. Take a BC powder and get hammered. She showed her merit by winning 5 additional world championships. Another IOC BS decision.
Always,
Phil