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There seems to be a backlash to all the allegations that China falsified official documentation in order to qualify underage gymnasts to their 2008 Olympic team.

Most experts assumed those charges were highly likely to be true based on the many verified cases of age falsification in the past.

Commenter pommy pointed us to an important new video.

Here’s the best evidence I’ve seen that gold medalist Jiang Yuyuan (also Yuyan; traditional Chinese: 江鈺源; simplified Chinese: 江钰源; pinyin: Jiāng Yùyuán) was actually old enough in Beijing.

This video is an excerpt from the documentary film “Dream Weavers 2008” (筑梦2008, Zhu Meng). It was the opening film of the 11th Shanghai Film Festival that ran from June 14-22, 2008 …. The documentary, which took director Gu Jun seven years to make, captures events leading up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and how various lives were affected by this major international event in China. …

Footage from 2003 shows two of the eventual Beijing Olympic Team training:

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

[01:09] The Chairman of the National Gymnastic Association, Gao Jian, states that the purpose of the training event is to “select women gymnasts of the appropriate age for the 2008 Olympics.”

[01:21] Four of the gymnasts state their names: Jiang Yuyuan, Nai Ruoyu, Shi Juan, Li Hanghai. Of the four, only Jiang Yuyuan eventually competed in the Olympics.

[01:26] The interviewer actually asks the girls for their ages!!! Their answers are: Nai Ruoyu “10”, Jiang Yuyuan “12”, Shi Juan “13”, and “11” for Li Hanghai. The girls have absolutely no reason to lie at this point. None of them are on the National Team yet and the age controversy is still many years away. …

If Jiang Yuyuan was 12 in 2003, that would make her at least age-16 in 2008, age eligible.

While far from conclusive, it’s far stronger evidence than any documents published by the People’s Republic of China. Leave a comment below if you have an opinion.

Olympic teammate Deng Linlin (邓琳琳) is shown in the 2003 footage, as well, but does not give her age.

He Kexin is still most suspected of being underage.

The Couch Gymnast posted a somewhat comic review of trends in gymnastics hair styles. We’ve come a long way since 1968.

VÄ›ra Čáslavská (left) looks away in protest during the medal ceremony at the 1968 Olympics. Source – Wikipedia.

… we will be moving into some deeply, deeply shallow territory…..hair trends in gymnastics. Mostly because there have been definite fads over the years in a sport where the best-kept hair during competition is hair kept out of the way– but also because, over the years, along with some winning coiffures, there have been some highly dubious choices- something I think we should all celebrate together! …

click through to see the entire post with photos – Couch Gymnast

On Gymnast.com:

Olympic Bar Releases – photo gallery

2008 Olympic Ring Strength – photo gallery

The most impressive circus act I’ve seen is Mr. Kite in LOVE, Las Vegas.

It’s a solo performance by Kris Carrison.

I can’t describe it. (Can barely even watch it.)

The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil – Facebook Fan page

Book tickets to LOVE months in advance if you want to see it: LOVE – Cirque du Soleil

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UPDATE: Cirque is looking for trapeze artists right now: Flyers 121-138 lbs, 5’5 to 5’7”. Catchers are 158-169 lbs, 5’8 to 5’10”.

If interested, contact me by clicking the “email us” link the top right hand corner of this page.

Morgan Hamm says he will be done with gymnastics after the Tour of Gymnastics Superstars.

But Paul is not so sure:

… He might attend graduate school in business administration. Although he says he has retired, he left an opening for a return for the London Games in 2012.

“It’s hard to let go,” said Paul, whose hand has healed. The untimely injury left him feeling unfulfilled. “If my body feels good,” he might consider continuing with gymnastics in a few years.

One obstacle is the ever-increasing degree of difficulty in gymnastic tricks. Some have suggested it reached a dangerous point leading to Beijing; Hamm once complained that the demands being placed on competitors can lead to serious injury.

But he doesn’t expect officials to scale back the scoring code.

“That makes it hard to stick around,” Paul said. “Young guys coming up are learning the specific rules the way they are now as opposed to people like me who are hanging on to the past, picking and choosing which skills we want to fit in.”

Olympic gymnastics was spectator sport for Hamms – Mercury News

(via Stick It Media)

The hard life of an elite gymnast. She has a reunion with her parents after 3yrs away in Beijing.

It includes a brief interview with coach “Thunder Thighs“ Li who compares training in China vs the USA.

China Rises. Documentary about Chinese Junior National Team Member, Xiao Sha.

Click PLAY or watch it on Gymnastike.

The Couch Gymnast posted anecdotes on how these gymnasts started: Alicia Sacramone, Carlotta Giovanni, Courtney Kupets, Daiane dos Santos, Dasha Joura, Dina Kochetkova, Elena Zamolodchikova.

Aussie Olympic gymnast Georgia Bonora:

“Like everyone else, my mum just wanted me to expend my energy anywhere but on her furniture! My older sister was already in gymnastics, so she took me there, hoping to tire me out!”

Click through to read the rest: Straight from the Gymnasts Mouth…

Bonora’s coaches are John Hart and Shaoyi Jiang. Her choreographer is Stacey Umeh-Lees.

Related: A funny video linked by bogwoppit on Chalk Bucket.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The Adidas Stella McCartney breakfast presentation for her S/S09 collection was an impressive showcase of Britain’s Olympic team.

… Highlights were watching GB Olympic gymnasts Beth Tweddle and Becky Downie on the balance beam and trampolinists Bryony Page and Jaime Moore sporting Stella’s summery swimwear mid air. …

Olympic Gymnasts at adidas by Stella McCartney – Dazed Digital

Eddie posted his picks on Sportales. Click through for details on each.

The United States has made marked improvements with respect to their gymnastics world rankings in the past decade or so. And whenever we speak of great gymnasts that America has ever produced, some names immediately come to mind: Dominique Moceanu, Kerri Strug, Amy Chow, Kathy Johnson, Brandy Johnson, Julianne McNamara and more.

Shannon Miller

Nastia Liukin

Shawn Johnson

Kim Zmeskal

Carly Patterson

Greatest American Female Gymnasts

And for the boys:

Paul Hamm

Kurt Thomas

Peter Vidmar

Bart Conner

Mitch Gaylord

Peter Kormann

Blaine Wilson

Greatest American Male Gymnasts

Leave a comment if you are outraged that one of your favourite gymnasts was omitted.

In my opinion, the greatest American gymnast of all time, male or female, is now Nastia Liukin.

more Gymnastics Icons & Wallpapers

On August 23rd, Hamburg played host to a extraordinary sporting event–urban cliff diving. The world’s top 10 cliff divers were assembled to compete in the 2008 Red Bull Cliff Diving Championship. What better endorsement for cliff diving than the energy drink that gives you wings? …

Click PLAY or watch some highlights on Trendhunter.