In the LA Times this morning, a most appalling article on China’s road to gold medals. In particular, the tremendous sacrifices their women athletes made to protect the advantage.  After taking the gold medal in Judo, Xian Dongmei told reporters she had been kept from her 18 month old daughter for the year leading up to the games, having conversed with her only via webcam. Gold medallist weightlifter Cao Lei was shielded from the fact that her mother was dying until after the funeral, after her win. Digging down into the youth pool, 15-year-old diver, Chen Ruolin was forced to skip dinner for one year to keep her body sharp…leaving her with damaged eyesight and at a weight of 66 pounds.

At the beginning of the games, Chinese Sports Minister Liu Peng says it like this, “To achieve Olympic glory for the motherland is the sacred mission assigned by the Communist Party central.”

Now we, as the Americans that closed games repeatedly using the word fun (sic), can argue the ethics of such tactics, and yet see the design concept. There is a saying that goes ‘Communism looks great on paper, but doesn’t work in real life.’

Barbara Demick, for the LA Times, highlights a slue of other China gold morsels in the full article.

What do you think ladies?

 

*Image - Chen Ruolin

• Currently 4.0/5 Stars.

Tags: Olympics, women athletes, health, China

Maybe its just my personality, but I play for me...I guess that is why I will never be in the Olympics...I read the article...China picking children out of schools/homes at age 6 and training them for POSSIBLE greatness, meanwhile injuring their growing bodies. jesus. Posted by: KDface on Sep 02, 2008 at 03:25 PM

Wow! This is really intense - but not unlike the old Soviet Union and their gymnasts. I have known many who "escaped" communism to come to this country. I am very conflicted about China and it's odd brand of capitalistic socialism. I can't stand what they are doing in Tibet, (though is it really that different from our occupation of Iraq?) but I don't blame them for what's happened to the world economy. Can we ever truly understand or appreciate the cultural soup of a country so foreign to our own? For us, the concept of "free choice" is paramount. It is unimaginable to us what these women athletes went through. I agree with Sarah - our athletes make tremendous sacrifices for their chosen sport...but it is they who choose to make the sacrifices and that makes a huge amount of difference in my mind. In the end - it's just a medal count in annals of time. Posted by: bmoore on Aug 29, 2008 at 04:52 PM

Not surprised. The not so hidden truths of society. I am sure there are even things that our American athletes do that may be a sacrifice for 'the advantage'....just not mandated by the government. Posted by: Sarah on Aug 28, 2008 at 04:23 PM

Figures. I do not agree with their stance on performing for gold, for the mother country...give me a break. Posted by: Karen on Aug 28, 2008 at 02:52 PM