After she won the Bronze medal in the All-around, the amazing Yang Yilin was required to face the world media.
Two Americans had stood with her on the podium. Nastia Liukin got the gold, Shawn Johnson the silver, and they were late. As minutes passed, reporters crowded around Yang, scrutinizing, asking questions.
Unlike Johnson, who arrived later, obviously delighted with her medal, Yang displayed little outward emotion. She smiled obediently, all small teeth, when reporters asked her to pose for photos. Her little mouth pursed again when the lenses were turned away. …
World’s 2007 – AFP/Getty Images
From that AP interview quoted in a Gymblog post:
… Were your parents here to see you compete, among the cheering crowds?
“I don’t know.â€
When was the last time you went home?â€
“Ummm … before I joined the national team,†Yang said, her small voice hard to hear.
When was that?
“More than a year ago.â€
Will you go on holiday after the games?
“I don’t know.â€
How many holidays do you get a year?
“I have not had a holiday since I joined the national team.â€
Read more on the interview in this article: Commentary: The sad life of Yang Yilin
I hear He Kexin was rushed away from the media scrum after winning the Gold on Bars. They were asking her about her age. UPDATE: I’ve now heard otherwise: “He Kexin was not immediately shuffled away, instead she was bombarded by despicable American journalists trying to misguide her into giving away her age. The answer she provided was focused and well-trained.” … see the comments for more.
Clearly these young girls have had no media training. I still suspect they were under prepared for the media.
That’s poor coaching. I’m still shocked the Chinese girls were so unaffected by the pressure of competing in Beijing.
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I tell you what annoys me (not that it matters). People who say that dedicating ones self at a young age at gymnastics means you have no life. Like in this article.
“In “hitting the duck,” kids throw and hit each other with a small, sand-filled bag. It wasn’t clear what the other games involve, but it sure didn’t sound like listening to tunes in your bedroom at home with girlfriends, watching MTV and dreaming about boys.”
Yeah like that is good. Music that the same society that says this is normal behavior, also says that music is responsible for negatively influencing children, teenage pregnancies. I can’t stand people (well they really annoy me) who say stuff like that. We all have 1 life to achieve all that we can. Most don’t get a chance to achieve anything meaningful in our lives, for whatever reasons. I personally admire and support any kid who knows what they want to do when they that young. Usually they also turn out to go onto other great or meaningful, long fullfilling lives.
I am not saying its good for a kid not to be able to see her parents, or know if they are there to watch her compete, but her lifestyle is hers and she doesn’t seem to be complaining.
I don’t care what people say, those chinese kids want to be there, they aren’t forced (you can’t force that level of gymnastics).
Ohh i am annoyed now… i will stop.
Valentin Uzunov
THeGymPress
http://www.thegympress.net
I was rather surprised to see this entry in your blog, which I find to be very impartial usually. He Kexin was not immediately shuffled away, instead she was bombarded by despicable American journalists trying to misguide her into giving away her age. The answer she provided was focused and well-trained.
As for Yang Yilin, you can gather from the various with her on youtube that she is polite and shy. She’s never one to break out into extreme emotions, and in fact, it was this mature composure that we witnessed throughout the competition that won her her AA bronze medal. When Yilin’s competition finally ended after her UB final routine, we finally caught a glimpse of her exuberance, which I found greatly touching.
I am appalled at the lack of cultural respect from the author of the article. In asian cultures, restraint and calm are in fact virtues. It also seems that the author is mocking at the games the girls play, and that they should in fact be ‘listening to tunes in your bedroom at home with girlfriends, watching MTV and dreaming about boys.’
All in all, a disgraceful and self righteous article from a journalist that has absolutely no interest in any other cultures besides his own.
Thanks for posting Icecruncherz. I have updated the original post, having not seen the media scrum myself.
I know they can be intimidating.
Certainly the age question is valid. And an Olympic Gold medalist should be mature enough. And trained specifically, to handle that question. Regardless of the culture.
Just wanted to say that I agree with everything Valentin Uzunov and Icecruncherz said. I would’ve said the same thing, but you folks said it better.
“…instead she was bombarded by despicable American journalists trying to misguide her into giving away her age.”
Despicable American journalists wouldn’t be bombarding her if her coaches hadn’t put her in that situation by handling her information sloppily at the least, if not actually cheating. I also love how you say give away her age like she really is underaged and it’s perfectly okay to hide it.
Hi Shergymrag:
I am a Singaporean Chinese myself, and my personal judgement is that He Kexin IS underage.
Part of me wants to see that a proper investigation be carried out, and that China be punished if guilty, but the other half just wants the matter to be swept under the carpet just because of the team’s incredible performances at team finals.
My gripe above stems from the condescending tone of the original article, as well as the inability of the American media to respect the gymnasts. I suspect that instead of congratulating Kexin on her effort, the journalists lashed straight out at the poor girl with questions laced in poison. She worked hard for this whatever her age, and if the reporters had any integrity, should have left the age issue aside till after her big day.
There are many factors that will affect a person’s height, weight and appearance like where a person grew up and genetics. I am 19 years old this year and I am 5 feet and 1/2 of an inch tall. When I buy tickets to see 18A or R rated movies, no one believes me. I have to show ID. It doesn’t help that I have a round, baby face. So, if someone like me competes for China, they will be accused of being underage. If that’s the case, then all this scrutiny isn’t fair.
I also agree with many people who posted before. Foreign media likes to grasp at the negative side of the Chinese gymnasts. It’s a completely different culture and many commentators and journalists can be so close-minded. I grew up in a very rural part of China. What I did for fun when I was small was rope-skipping in the yard, playing hop-scotch (I drew the squares myself with chalk). Yeah, nothing hi-tech. And the whole tone of the article was so condescending. It’s like they believe she was forced. There may have been some initial pushing by her parents. But other than that, it’s her choice. Instead of focusing on how well she did, they had to go and write an article like that. I am so very very annoyed.
You Americans are so judgmental. Many people in Asia or other countries who have worked in bigger cities don’t get the chance to go back to their provinces, some people don’t go back to provinces in 20 years. This is not an isolated case. And Yang Yilin is a very shy girl. If you look at the videos interview to Chinese gymnasts, the other gymnasts are full of life, smile and laughter but Yang Yilin is just naturally shy.
and what is wrong with throwing sandbags or whatever? This is what we did when we were kids growing in Asia—-simple things in life with lots of fun—-no viral and bacterial media bad influences like MTV or Pussy Cat Dolls.
Hi,
Ummm I was just wondering if someone can help me out with some info relating to Yang Yilin (the Chinese gymnast)
Well I’ve been trying to find out endlessly if she will be cometing in the 2012 London olympics, does anyone know? And if she is the events she’ll take part in?
Thanks very much, any help will be much appreciated
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