Revisiting Past Age Falsifications

[rlayt]

This isn’t relative to the other recent threads I found about the Romanians. Gina made it to Barcelona by getting a year added to her age.

“The Uncaught Thief”.

“The Uncaught Thief”: Unraveling Gina Gogean’s Age – Gymnastics History

 

[Puffin]

Silivas wasn't age eligible for the gold she won at 1985 worlds because she was only 13 - the Romanians changed her birth year from 1972 to 1970 and issued her a new passport.

 

[KorbutFan]

Neither was Popa. She was born in 1971.

 

[youwannacranson]

Alexandra Marinescu was the last Romanian to have her passport falsified

Several Soviets did, including Bicherova who was only 12 (IIRC) when she won 1981 Worlds

 

[RedBirdie]

Wasn't there speculation that Viktoria Karpenko was falsified by a year?

 

[Matilda23]

I read that Monica Zahiu also had her age increased. I wonder if Claudia Presecan did too? IIRC she was pictured training with Marinescu and Zahiu at Steaua Bucharest in 1993 or 1994?

 

[Matilda23]

Wasn't there speculation that Viktoria Karpenko was falsified by a year?

I think this was due to how an article was written in International Gymnastics magazine. IIRC article was printed in 1995 and said something like, “the 12 year old, who fell 3 times at the 1994 National Championships” so people assumed she was 12 in 1995 when they were reading article. I think it meant she was 12 at the 1994 National Championships (which is fine with a 1981 birthdate).

 

[Angelika]

Lets not forget the Chinese - too many to mention!

 

[MaryClare]

I have err, seen a couple of “birthday wishes” posts on VK that don’t quite tally with said persons FIG profile

 

[Matilda23]

I have err, seen a couple of “birthday wishes” posts on VK that don’t quite tally with said persons FIG profile

What decade did they compete?!

 

[MaryClare]

What decade did they compete?!

Have seen a couple of later than expected 50th and 60th birthday celebrations.

 

[ArnoldRimmer]

I think this was due to how an article was written in International Gymnastics magazine. IIRC article was printed in 1995 and said something like, “the 12 year old, who fell 3 times at the 1994 National Championships” so people assumed she was 12 in 1995 when they were reading article. I think it meant she was 12 at the 1994 National Championships (which is fine with a 1981 birthdate).

That's interesting. I knew there'd always been rumours about Karpenko but had no idea of the source.

On the Romanians specifically, am I right in thinking the ones we know for sure/near as are Gogean, Silivas and Marinescu, or am I forgetting anyone?

 

[MaryClare]

That's interesting. I knew there'd always been rumours about Karpenko but had no idea of the source.

On the Romanians specifically, am I right in thinking the ones we know for sure/near as are Gogean, Silivas and Marinescu, or am I forgetting anyone?

There was definitely something with Agache/Szabo

 

[phoenix7]

Szabo, Agache, Ilienko, Mostepanova, Bicherova, Omelianchik in the 1984 quad. Then Romania continued with select gymnasts into the 1996 quad and China was found to have falsified in 2000. I hadn't heard about Victoria Karpenko before.

Was the 1980 change of regulations a surprise to federations? It seems to have been followed by a slew of cases, as if the "pipeline" had been disrupted, but I don't know of any examples of Soviet falsifications after 1984.

 

[Puffin]

I saw Olga Mostepanova at the 1980 Coca Cola International - where she must had been only 11!


Also if people are saying Olga Bicherova was only 12 at 1981 Worlds baby Bicherova must have been only 9 or 10 at 1979 Moscow News - although she gave her back a nasty jolt on ub.

 

[phoenix7]

I saw Olga Mostepanova at the 1980 Coca Cola International - where she must had been only 11!


Also if people are saying Olga Bicherova was only 12 at 1981 Worlds baby Bicherova must have been only 9 or 10 at 1979 Moscow News - although she gave her back a nasty jolt on ub.

She could well be under ten there, definitely. Of course they all wore the pigtails and bows but she comes across very much as a child.