Why are people screaming 'anti-Americanism' over the whole gymastics controversy?

Question

It's not like this is the first time in history people have hated America. People have hated America for the past eight years,and gymnasts like Carly Patterson won gold in the all-around competition so why now?

I agree that both He and Nastia should've won the gold medal,and the tie breaker was the dumbest thing in my opinion,but all this anti-American thing is just lame

If the judges were anti-American,then how did Shawn Johnson and Nastia make history by winning the gold and silver in the all-around, which is the hardest and best event

If this tie breaker thing was so unfair,then why did people not quetion before the games.The tie breaker was decided before the games. Also, why is it that everytime an American wins,it's so great,but when there is a loss,people have to scream foul and make strong statements like anti-Americanism

Why must people politicize everything just because a country is not winning?

Just because the government does awful things doesn't mean that the people are like that

Answer 1

I totally agree with fillet.  I loved the olympics when I was younger.  It was great - it was really exciting.  Something I looked forward to.  It's nice to see people get together for something positive - instead of disaster or war or famine or whatever usually brings us together.  But this year it's beginning to get on my nerves.  

I'm proud of the athletes from my country, regardless of how they place.  I think people should celebrate the winners of the games - it doesn't matter what country they are from.  The more people whine and complain, and rag on their athletes who don't perform to their expectatons - the more we lose sight of what the Olympics SHOULD be.

Whatever.  

Answer 2

I agree with Diablo.  Finally, some intelligent response.  

Because the judging is anti-American.  That's why.  Nastia shouldve won.  Shawn Johnson shouldve gotten a medal the other night.  The US shouldve won the team gold inspite of Sacrimony's falls.  Why - because China is cheating with an underage team.  You can't possibly expect our top athletes to compete against a team of 10yr olds.  They have an unfair advantage.  China forged their passports.  Theyre cheating because they cant stand that we are better than them in everything.

Look - all the commentators on the media agree that we are being cheated.  The three gymnastics commentators and even Bob Costas on NBC keep pointing out the anti-American cheating going on.  And they're experts.  So, its obvious that we are being cheated.  See thats the difference between us and other countries - we have a good media that picks up on this stuff and tells us.  

Go USA!!!

Answer 3

I totally agree with you. I think the Americans simply can't face it  they are beaten, and they  have to give heaps of reasons for not winning. How immature.  

Answer 4

I am not aware of the incident this question refers to.

However, due to some of the comments that have been posted, just a personal observation...

The U.S.A teams under-performance in Track & Field events has been very noticable.

What has happened since the last Olympics?

The Balco controversy.

Coincidence???

Answer 5

i dont think the judges bias is because of anti-americanism but i do think that judges is letting the loud chinese crowds dictate the scores ever so slightly...

Answer 6

I'm not really sure which side of this you're on. On the one hand, you seem to be making the point that American's are whiners who pout when they don't win, but at the same time you seem to be railing against people who make that point.

The simple fact is that the most successful countries and/or teams always have a large target on their backs. They are often going to be accused of being sore losers when the don't win, or they are going to be accused of cheating or playing unfair when they win.

While you make a valid point about the tie breaker rules being in place before the Olympics, I think it's fairly obvious that many of the competitors did not understand those rules - or were not aware of them. And in this particular case you are applying an "objective" tie breaker to a subjective scoring system.

Answer 7

Foreigners use the Olympics as an excuse to attack Americans, its terribly immature.

Answer 8

It's a d**n shame.

Because the Olympics are supposed to bring people TOGETHER.

Not bring up ugly prejudices and create divides and controversy.

It would help if people think more for themselves, like you, and not just what the media rants about.  

Answer 9

I think its because of the news reports against china's gymnasts...

And how Americans made it a huge public issue in the media.

Even if they were cheating(china) which i wont be suprised because those girls don't look 16,but until proven otherwise, the Oympics always have cheaters, its the biggest sporting event in the world, there will always be cheaters, history has taught us that.

But when you lose to a possible cheater, do you just accept it, and let the glory share in spirit of the games?

or humiliate the country and make accusastions? based on no proof, and make huge reports on it?

The rest of the world undersatnds these reports, being in english, the rest of the world sees this and goes "wow, Why are they making such a big deal"?

And apparently American reporters act like judges themselves and make brash comments instead of reporting fairfully..

This is what i've been hearing and some i've seen myself..

if you feel i'm wrong please correct me.

I'm trying to say this in the most unbiased fashion, in full regards to your question.

Answer 10

Where have you been, read through some of these questions and answers on here, more pathetic anti-Americanism than I have ever seen.

The are using America as vents for their countries Olympic failures, it's lame.

Answer 11

Uh, you're contradicting yourself, also people have hated Americans for longer than 8 years.

Answer 12

I don't think it is a matter of being anti-American because of their politics, but rather their behaviour.  The Olympics is about sportsmanship - not accusing the judges/other teams of collusion or cheating when they lose.  It's also about having dignity and grace when you win something - not jumping up and down proclaiming how great America is and how it's better than the rest of the world.

Ultimately it's the fact that they come across as arrogant, ignorant and bad losers.  Having said that I certainly don't believe all American's are like that (I'm from Aus), but unfortunately most of the American's I have met when travelling abroad, most of the American's who post on these forums and most of the American's featured on our TV happen to be like that!

Answer 13

Cheating=unfair

underage gymnast=advantage/cheater

judges= praising Chinese mistakes/ counting every single error USA makes

Chinese=communist

Passports= fake with not birth certificate

Chinese gymnast= baby tooth...oh wait she's 16

I'm going to bed now.

Answer 14

Don't you know it's the in thing today to be anti-American.  But you can be sure if it were the Americans that did the cheating they would be all over it like flys on s***.

Answer 15

Obama says he'll eliminate all anti american sentiment in Olympics and allow marriage between man and animal if elected.  Don't worry.