The funniest response I’ve seen to the news that Team USA is getting a Bronze team medal for the Olympics 2000:
Dominique Dawes (triple Olympian) …
“Thanks to the due diligence of the IOC and FIG, the truth has been revealed. I could have never imagined receiving another medal after 10 years. Maybe this will inspire me to come back for a fourth Olympics. Oh wait, is there a maximum age?”
http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.js
The best summing up of the entire sorry story can be read on the American Gymnast blog, posted by the always thoughtful Andy Thornton:
Coming out of the mouth of one of the biggest opponents of the age requirement to begin with…I must say I am very proud of the IOC. If the FIG is going to try to enforce such strict rules that have such a huge impact on world and Olympic competition – no matter how absurd they may be – there HAS to be consequences for violators. …
read more – IOC Made the Right Decision
Andy lists a few of the gymnast who didn’t cheat: Russian Natalia Ziganshina and perhaps even Anna Pavlova (2000), Kristal Uzelac (2000), Uzelac (2001), Romanian Sabina Cojocar (2000), Nastia Liukin (2004), and Samantha Shapiro (2008).
You could name dozens more.
Andy links to Blythe Lawrence’s summing up on Gymnastics Examiner. It talks of the underage gymnast in the 1996 Olympics, never investigated by FIG or IOC.
Both Andy and Blythe conclude with the obvious. The minimum age requirement for competitive gymnasts must be eliminated once and for all.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 