Word: coachful
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...taking silver and the Romanians rounding it out with a bronze. But even as the Chinese team's doll-like faces broke out into giant smiles, a question mark hung over the mats at the National Indoor Stadium. Last month, when China finally named its Olympic squad, legendary gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi complained that some of China's gymnasts were "obviously kids... and you're telling the world they are 16? What arrogance!" Were three of the six Chinese women on the stand actually too young to be competing...
...told me quite cheerfully that she competes as an 11-year-old in provincial and regional age-ranked competitions. Her national identity card, she said, had been changed to reflect the false birth-date. "It's no big deal," she insisted. "Most of my friends do it, too." Her coach, who hadn't been present when I interviewed the girl, denied any age-fixing at the school, although he said he was quite sure it happened at other academies...
...record, and Olympic newcomer Rebecca Soni, a last minute substitute in the 100m breaststroke after teammate Jessica Hardy was pulled off for a doping violation, collected an unexpected silver. "It's great to see others getting involved, especially when everyone is so competitive," says Mark Schubert, head national team coach. Even if Phelps isn't willing to bear his soul, at least he seems willing to share in his speed...
...bars that the U.S. squad found its medal rhythm. Flowing routines by Jonathan Horton and Justin Spring, both of whom landed squarely to punctuate their determination, pushed the team to second behind the Chinese. "For a bunch of first timers, they did amazingly well" says Miles Avery, the Hamms' coach. "People felt without Paul and Morgan we had nothing. But we had a lot left...
...entrants into the all-around competition, which takes place August 14, a far less collegial contest that pits one gymnast against another on all six apparatus. But even then, it's likely that the two won't be competing alone - at least in spirit. "Team is everything," says head coach Kevin Mazeika. "Our mantra is 100% one team, one dream." China's Yang Wei is the current world champion, and expected to avenge his 2004 nightmare, in which he literally fell from medal contention when he lost his grip on the high bars. The drop pushed him out to seventh...