Nancy Armour, AP National Writer
LONDON — The Japanese men aren’t the only ones who can bring home the hardware.
Koko Tsurumi won the bronze at the world gymnastics championships on Friday, only the second time a Japanese woman has won an all-around medal. Keiko Ikeda took the bronze in 1996.
“The women’s team has been strong, but since last year, there’s more attention being paid,” Tsurumi said through a translator. “They’re going stronger and stronger, and I hope this continues for the Olympic Games.”
Tsurumi finished with 57.175 points, behind Americans Bridget Sloan and Rebecca Bross.
Asked if she’d taken any inspiration from Uchimura, Tsurumi shook her head.
“We know the Japanese men are strong,” she said. “It’s natural for them to win.” …
read the article – USA Today – Look out, guys! Tsurumi wins bronze at gym worlds
Koko 4′ 7″ weighs only 33kg (73lbs) … yet nobody accuses her of being underage. We trust the Japanese. We don’t trust the Chinese. Simple.
6 comments ↓
Off topic but, does any one else notice that Shawn J and Nast L are now following each other on twitter (finally)? wonder what brought about the change.
Wasn’t it since 1966 not 1996?
….
Love your blog
Koko’s face and body look her age though…
Did anybody find documents indicating that Koko is underage? NO! That’s why nobody questioned Koko’s age. It has nothing to do with Japanese vs. Chinese or height. There were plenty of short gymnasts in Beijing but only the Chinese had anything remotely close to evidence which would suggest that they weren’t of age. Without that the questions would have simply been brushed off the same as they were with Bai Chunyu. Teeny Chinese gymnast from a couple years back. There were always the stray posts on messageboards questioning, “Is she really 16?” But without more evidence that’s all they ever added up to.
It wasn’t about their height or their youthful appearance. It was about the evidence! It’s wrong to make it seem like people were just going by their looks. That is NOT what was happening.
Listen! Self-centered Western people!
I’m Japanese.
To me, Bridget Sloan doesn’t look seventeen.
I thought she must be in her thirties.
That’ it! They are defferent.
Hahahahaha! B. Sloan looks thirty to me too. But, as I said before, it’s not about LOOKS!
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