U.S. women’s team second in gymnastics to China

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BEIJING -- With Shawn Johnson and Nastia Liukin, both all-around gold medal contenders, the United States women believed they had a chance to win the gymnastics team competition, even on China’s home mat.

They believed it even when hit with injury after injury, leaving them with only four healthy gymnasts for the finals Wednesday.

In the end, their belief wasn’t enough.

They finished second, more than respectable considering the circumstances, but, with no room for error, they made two major ones on the balance beam and floor exercise. China won by 2.375 points.

Romania was third.

It was the first women’s team gold for China. There have been questions about whether some of the gymnasts are underage, repeated often this week on NBC coverage by commentator Bela Karolyi. He might be biased. His wife is the U.S. coach. He also might be right.

It’s clear the international gymnastics federation (FIG) and the International Olympic Committee do not want to deal with this issue. If, indeed, there is an issue to be dealt with.

The Chinese are more than happy to show media outlets who inquire passports and identification cards as proof the women are 16.

What can you do, except keep asking questions.

-- Randy Harvey