I don't know what all the hubbub and nay-saying about genetic engineering is all about. Not when you take a look at a women's Olympic gymnastics team and realize those girls aren't nine years old and selling Girl Scout cookies on the side.
There had to be a defining, yet quiet moment in history when some scientists, having drinks after work, started talking about ways they could improve athletic performance with "vitamins", gulag-style training, pressure chambers, way-better floor mats, machines that go ping, and a strict diet of water. They sketched out these new techniques on a cocktail napkin hoping their ideas would earn them a ticket out of the Siberian labor camp.
And then at some point in history someone (Soviets) had to say yes to the plan and replaced food (vodka) with a syringe and pull-ups with an astronaut (cosmonaut) training program. Of course we (Yankee devils) followed suit because it was appropriate to use the Olympics as a battleground in the Cold War (Lake Placid) — ah, those were the days.
Boo-yaka! Let these people grow! Is it not possible for a woman twice their size (like 5'3" and 103 lbs.) to do a routine on the uneven bars? Do they build these bonsai-gymnasts because the floor exercise equipment can't handle the stress of a regular person? And what's with the pommel horse? Did that thing come from medieval Europe or what?
Speaking of horses, why haven't we seen a Deion Sanders of the horse racing and gymnastics world? Both sports seem to require the same engineered body type so you know it's totally doable.
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I've been wondering this myself for many, many years. I saw a girl today that even when adding years to my guess I wasn't even close. Is it me or dose that small 16 year old Chinese girl look like she's not even in the double-digits yet?
Here she could drive a car at that age and she wouldn't even have a chance at seeing over the dashboard much less the stereo.
If you want unadulterated girth watch the water polo event. Not only do you get regular sized men (not sure if there is a women's counterpart) you also may have the chance to see Croatia's checkerboard speedos.
It's sad that some of you are still ignorant and making fun of the regular size of people from other countries.
It's not funny.
It's not "Boo-yakka," it's "Buyakasha."
What I find interesting is that on TV, it's almost impossible to tell their real dimensions. It's only when you see them hugging a giant person afterwards that you realize the camera has been fooling you all along. They are not sitting in oversized chairs nor do they have 7 ft officials or coaches. These kids are small. Powerful, but small. Even the 22year old American is tiny.
Oh please, Jason, before you comment check your facts! Yes, Ali G (also known as Sasha Baron Cohen) does indeed more often use "booyakasha" (or however you want to spell it), but he does also mention "booyaka" (again, spelling might be subject to change) on occasion. Anyway, totally irrelevant to this discussion.
Now, if yous excuse me, I will be in front of me telly, avin some erbal remedy while me is watchin da lesbolympics.
Big up, fanks!
lol Didier. That was a really good Ali G impersonation. Good stuff.
That's what killed my Olympic chances....6'-8" of height, and I suck at basketball.
I thought that the reason for these gymnasts etc. being so small was because they started training at a young age. Their muscles become stronger affecting the typical growth spurt that most children/teens have.
Well I'm sure that’s the reason.
And why aren't the labels for these fields here actual labels? At the very least that 'Save you data' checkbox should be! I was clicking on the text like a mad man thinking surely it's a real label!
You want to talk about tiny... how about someone that is 5 foot 3 inches but can lift a Volkswagon over their head without poping the veins in their neck?
It's just physics. Shorter people rotate faster. On the other hand, taller people = bigger muscles. And on the other other hand, shorter means a lower center of gravity means easier to balance. Work the equations and you come up with the modern gymnast.
The current women's world champion in gymnastics, Svetlana Khorkina, is 25 years old and 5'5. She almost has an anti-gymnast body since she's long and lean instead of short and powerful. She finished second in Athens.