Sha Xiao Wins Balance Beam Gold

Chinese gymnasts, Sha Xiao, takes the gold with a beam routine score of 16.125. In the 32nd Turnier der Meister 2008, in Cottbus, Germany.(WCSN, WCSN.com)

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[sylntro]

Okay! Can we get back to gymnastics now?

[pedro5133]

I totally agree with you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[AndromedaAiken]

@MaddieBee223 She was inconsistent leading up to the Olympics, that's why she was not on the Olympic team.

[PhenixJoe]

Ugh I hate all that beam straddling that the Chinese do. Swing downs are such a cop out; how often do you see someone screw up a swing down? Never! It's such a manipulation of the code.

[ShawnVikaKomova2012]

@JohnPhilipSousa519 I guess. But form depends on how you're trained. Mustafina and Nabieva can't do clean twisting because they were brought up in that way. But yes, that rule does apply to a lot of gymnasts.

[JohnPhilipSousa519]

@ShawnVikaKomova2012 That's true.......but I suppose in terms of form it may help a bit.

[ShawnVikaKomova2012]

@JohnPhilipSousa519 Haha, Kim was 4'4'', definately underaged too. But Koval, Liukin, Khorkina, and Zgoba weren't short and they were all great on bars. I don't know exactly how much I think a pre-pubescent body really helps.

[JohnPhilipSousa519]

@ShawnVikaKomova2012 Good tumblers tend to be powerful, typically what a Chinese gymnast is not. The Chinese have GORGEOUS lines for beam and bars, but I never think of a Chinese girl when I think of great tumblers, though there have been some. Kristen was great in Sydney simply because she was one of the best tumblers ever, even with massive injuries. And poor Pavs is always underscored (both Olympics!) Bar workers tend to be the tiny girls, a la Kim Gwang Suk, who was 16 for like 10 years.

[ShawnVikaKomova2012]

@JohnPhilipSousa519 Yes that is true, about the fearless factor. But they are more fearless because they haven't faced as many injuries and are still very naive. A pre-pubescent body doesn't make much easier (besides some flexibility). But Kristen Maloney and Zamo didn't look pre-pubescent at all and they were the best tumblers in Sydney. Pavlova wasn't either, but her execution got her such high scores (but they were still underscored). Execution's more important than difficulty.

[JohnPhilipSousa519]

@ShawnVikaKomova2012 I heard that younger gymnasts tend to be more fearless than older, more experienced ones. And also, those with pre-pubescent bodies find it easier to perform more difficult skills. So the younger ones would be at an advantage if forced to train as hard, or harder than the older ones.

[gravyboatK]

The Chinese are so lean and lovely and bold in their top gymnastics. It's a shame their coaches and officials have to cheat...they really could hold their own.

[xiaoOakysan]

it seems like her routine is similar to Li Shan Shan's