Inside China’s gymnastics school that churns out Olympic champions
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2024
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The Li Xiaoshuang Gymnastics School in the Chinese city of Xiantao in Hubei province has churned out several Olympic gold medallists over the years. As a result, it has attracted many parents across the country to send their children there for training in hopes of turning them into world champions. Despite the tough nature of the drills, the gymnastics academy says it now focuses more on the fun side of sports instead of pushing young athletes to win medals.
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The first kid was so cute "I don't know what first place is called so I just made up one" hahaha
Is the first placed racer called the '' Winner or victor '?
"Those who fail often find it hard to pursue another career because they lack academics skills"..
That's kinda sad..
Yes they should get lessons while in the school
Ya all this positive Hype i feel is just the Chinese government posting hearts and kisses when really it is "Do this or ELSE". So 99% of them fail and have no education..... well that's nice....WHAT A GREAT PROGRAM........ Sheep wake da F UP
@@Oblivionsurveyor it's not about the "chinese government" if it's the chinese government they would do it in their own websites why here ? Not alot of people favor china alot here if you dont know about that.
nonsense
That's before. My personal trainer in Shanghai was one of this kids before, now he found the new career which he loves and income is great.
Even though most children will not become athletic in the future. But these experience will become a precious memory that bring strength in the future.
Correct, discipline physical and mental are never lost.
For people saying their parents forced them, I wish my parents forced me to pursue something. Parents want the best for their child. I feel like I am spoon fed that is I have not earned anything by myself.
As an Asian
I quite agree and not agree with you
If they force you to do and you fell in love with it then it's quite okay
But if I don't and parents are still forcing u to then it's not okay
Just like me
My parents told me to learn taekwondo years ago
And I still practice Taekwondo cuz I like it and my parents are jealous of me about how flexible I am rn and strong
So whatever you chose make sure to chose the right one
I actually never knew about martial arts before cuz I was just 6 xD
And now I don't wanna quite Taekwondo
It helps me with my depression and dosent make me feel useless
@President Trump Lives In Your Head Rent Free
could you disappear from the comment section? You are clearly xenophobe, racist and close-minded. Nobody asked for your toxic behavior.
I agree... my parents were pretty chill and now I'm 24 and I still haven't done anything significant
I'm sure it was unintentional
If you did not try to pursue something yourself, regardless l, then you would have been miserable had you been forced. Then you'd be back here reflecting on how you wasted your youth chasing your parents dream instead of your own. So forget the past and do what you can now.
This is an accurate picture. Im an American living in China and my daughter attends a government gymnastics training school in China. Im there every weekend and see how the kids are managed. Often they are poor children from the countryside who are given this new and better opportunity. They also study at the gym school. The kids are happy and disciplined. If they don’t have the personality for this intense training, they get sent back home. There’s no use for a kid who isn’t into it. It’s a matter of national pride and representing their country.
You are a traitor who needs to come home and be amongst your own countrymen! We may forgive you after you are re education Ed
Nations ego. You know how much gymnastics get injured while practicing for years.and also they are gymnastics who don't qualify in end have to live poor life than normal people.
@@NIcholasparker88 I thought Americans think re education is bad. I mean you do make a big deal about It on the international stage.
@@awesomevideo5525 it’s a gamble
@@NIcholasparker88 who tf are you here to judge? American motto: don’t fking judge plz.
Tbh Id rather be forced to do something when young so I could have the fondation to carry on and the knowledge of its like for when I can chose logically whether or not to continue rather than decide to do something with little to none knowledge about it
Just have faith...
I grew up useless and now I suffer from it in my late 20's because my parents focused on mundane school and nothing else.
If you achieve something great at an early age, you would have collected a great set of skills and lessons that would let you fulfill anything you wish for afterwards.
FoxNews & former host (Kelly) spewed insults at the Chinese by framing it as Child Abuse. At the first day of competition 2012 London Olympics.
@@peekaboopeekaboo1165 well idk how it is now, but back in the day it was 100% child abuse, brutal training for very young children, it's not right
@@IlmurOsp
Not in the case of the PROC aka "China". It that were the case, then the IOC and US-UK tandem would've call for the exclusion of Mainland Chinese gymnasts in international competitions.
I wish I started doing sports when I was in school instead of focusing on academics 24/7
Me too :( I feel I didn't invest much time in sports
Same..
These kids are hardworking. Their dreams is to get champion in the olympics. Go for your dreams:))
@Qixiu Shan these children are way to young to have decided to commit to something like this. As said in the video, the parents are enrolling them in the hope to have a famous child.
This kind of school are usually boarding school where the children get gymnastics training and minimal proper schooling. Majority of these kids will NOT become Olympic athletes. What can they do next? They know nothing else, can't compete in the job market.
@@SCL111 They're just kids. Jeez.. Slow down on your big expectations.
Did you know everyone have a job in China?
Try type homeless on TH-cam and you rarely see any mainland Chinese.
Only from a country who going around bombing and spreading their democracy.
That's not their dream. It's their parents dream. Cute try though 😉
@@gohazard4284 exactly. Ick!
Being a athlete is like a gamble. If you succeed your the pride of your country but if you fail you have wasted a precious amount of your life and you will most likely have to move on to something you don’t enjoy while having injuries that will bother you for the rest of your life.
Not to mention being cursed on the internet.
That's why I think athletes should be non-professional.
“Churn?” Please use a more respectful word to describe these athletes that train everyday.
Diligence, perseverance and the competitive spirit isn’t something you can churn out without a lifelong dedication, especially at the olympic level, I know
What u expect? It's SCMP, Asia version of BBC.
They're tiny kids they should be playing at the park.
@@yewsingooi9573 must a be a malaysian/singaporean with a love for mainland china rite
Tbh when your young being pushed to the limits is better, as once you reach to a certain age learning is gunna be much much harder..
yeah, but only if they show interest in it. If they don’t then let them back out. I nearly broke and I’m still close to collapsing.
West: "Oh, those poor kids are being FORCED..."
Kids in China: If i make the best of myself, maybe i can go to a place where i can have prestige in the future... I hope my parents support me... (every kid dream in any place on earth)
western mindset 🤣
you think these 4 year olds told their parents "i want to make the best to myself and have prestige in the future, put me in gymnastics!"?
FACTS
the parents forced them
@@konstantinavelin6402 I am Chinese, and my mother showed me the Latin Pharmacopoeia when I was three years old. Although I did not become a doctor in the end, I know that nothing is easy in this world
To represent their country for every athlete in platform like Olympic is not a joke trained to win guys best wishes china for future love from 🇳🇵Nepal guys .....
i wanted to have a chance to do ballet. which i got but i was forced to quit by my parents including sports because they thought that it was affecting my academics and they thought that these had no future for me.
@Annabelle Phen Lee funny? Parents want the best for us. I wanted to be a doctor all my life but my dad told me not to (he had his reasons), now I am a detective and I love my job and I won't change my job so...
@@myaccounttorun3485 all parents want the best for their kids, though not every parent actually knows what's best
@Annabelle Phen Lee ty. i eventually almost quit art because of them
@@myaccounttorun3485 i dont know. its like im not allowed to have a hobby or do anything besides studying.
@@myaccounttorun3485 Sorry but I don’t agree. I have been forced to do everything my parents wanted and to be their “perfect” child. However I was not one bit happy. They would force me me to do such activities and pursue stuff that I didn’t want to and hated. As an end result I nearly broke.
In America, many elite level girls are homeschooled and/or severely cut down on their school/study time to do elite level gymnastics.
I like how they mix fun and play now while training gymnastics. These are still children, and they deserve to have a happy childhood. More importantly, children need education so if they fail to be on the 1% they will have something else to do. You've already proven your skills in Olympics, China. The world already knows it.
When I was younger, I never thought about what I did was hard or difficult, because all my friends and classmates were all doing the same thing. Work and practice got hard when someone constantly reminds you, "this is impossible", "It's too hard for you", ""you shouldn't be doing this much work." I wish no one told me a fat kid like me shouldn't be able to run this fast.
Only you know your own capabilities and limits. Keep pushing!
The flips, cart wheels, rolls, turns, runs, sprints, jumps, leaps, hops, tip toes, crawls, walks, and bending is all well orchestrated
Why ppl saying her parents forced her bit she really explains why she loves gymnastics
It's competition there.
They don't have manners to wipe their nose at this age it's insane to say that it was their choice
I’m so proud of these kids but at the same time with such rigorous training and high expectations at such a young age I hope they’re OK mentally ❤️❤️
No they not
"I want to be a world runner-up' - every gymnast competing against Simone
@Impersonal Immigrant Ehm no, she's having a serious mental health issue, a 'block' if you will, that could leave her severely injured (like paralysis or coma even) if she were to try and compete...
@@elizac.2271 This comment was 3 months ago
@@artemissrijan473 So? someone replied to it last week and then apparently deleted it
@@elizac.2271 Oh yeah, they deleted it.
Also, I didn't like that person's comment either, but that person commented 3 months ago, before Simone left the Olympics, so the commenter didn't know about this news.
I just wanted to give some context, I guess
Every runner competing against Bolt.
every other country is also like this though, gymnastic is a hard sport that have to train at a young age
But apparently according to the US that’s child abuse. Any kids under the age of 12 should not have to be training in high intensity injury inducing sports they should stay home watch TV and eat Mac n cheese like a normal kid should, otherwise it’s abuse.
She is so cute. She can't remember what no. 1 was called so she wanted to be no. 2! 😂🤣
Sometimes I wonder if these videos are not related to China, what would the comments be. Let say a group of Korean children pursuing their dream, would there be comments criticizing their country's politics?
Yea. This is reality. When you're as big as China, you're literally competing with tens of millions of kids your age.
Naturally the competition is more aggressive.
It’s ridiculous some ppl say the parents force them. Just by the course is hard doesn’t mean it is forced. Challenges will actually make a person thrive and strive for success rather than a plain lesson. Yes it may be tough but it’s definitely not forced decisions. Lol it’s ridiculous seeing how some ppl say it’s forced.
@@jsdklfjdskdfsdf2891 they just feel ashamed and jealous because they don’t have the strength and spirit like those kids
I don't know why some people are so keen to smear China. Didn't you cry about competition when you were little? I still remember crying all night when I was a kid because I didn't qualify for the Mathematical Olympiad. There are no champions in this world that can be won without effort.If you ask Kobe Bryant, he'll tell you how hard he worked as a kid.😒
Beam walker, little Miss Du, is so sweet! Hope she will be a world champion one day.😃
Start them young, when they are most supple.
amarica: come on honey, just one more jump and your done!!!
china:hold a 15 min hand stand and your done!!
America: I am a kid with rights and freedom of speech that has a childhood and my parents don't force me into anything. I live happy.
China: My parents forced me into be an athlete cause my family is poor and from the country with no future in chine, I have to win a gold medal in the olympics or else my family will starve to death :)
They look so cute! GO FOR THE GOLD CUTIES 🥰🥰🥰
Yeah go for the gold!
But despite that, I really hope it isnt forced by their parents. If they are forced, that means it is the parents forcing them to do what they want, ang ignoring their desires and passions. Honestly I praise them, but I feel concerned.
Why whenever they talk about Asians being enrolled into olympics ppl always say it’s forced??? Those kids might have been enrolled because they just want to practice gymnastics. Sheesh you guys worry too much. What’s wrong with wanting to be an Olympian?
@@jsdklfjdskdfsdf2891 no, just Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotian, and North Korean because they come from “communist” countries.
@@dprkball9620 that’s still rude though. Idc who u support but that’s still very rude to generalize all Asians bc of political party, so why don’t u take ur political comments to some political video.
@@jsdklfjdskdfsdf2891 I'm not, just trying to play in the oppositionists shoes, they'd agree with this for sure
So much passion coming from that kid
Don't you know that all Olympians have similar story all over the world? Ask Tom Daley for the UK diving team.
Wish i had done activities like this when i was young.
No parents can forced their children. The school is also look after the child talents too. If they have no talent. They will never enter the school. Creating a world champion is not easy as you think. Dedication, talent, will, workhard, and enjoy the process, can create real champion.
As for gymnastics, I think every country will train their athletes at very young age. Looks like this media always throw a lot of dirt to China
I have to agree. I just saw this video and so many negative comments. I started professionally training for skating at 8 and that was late for professionals
These kids are very hardworking i want to say please don't push up them if its they're dreams, you as well can't force them like to take the medicine to get well that haves a reason. But look at these kids they are only younger. I hope they're parents understand. Winning isn't the point. Its only if you understand then you have a chance to win.
“please don’t push up them only if they’re dumb.” so are you saying it is okay to push dumb kids?
didnt they just say they did not send their kids there for a medal ... I mean, nowadays people know being an athlete is not a great job.
I hope these kids succeeds
Although I admire the hard work and ambition, in the end only Love & Passion can bring out ones full potential.
I am a sports man.
If you think this is hard, ask yourself " do you think that success comes without hardwork "
My hat off to these people.
Best of luck!!
I'm happy it's more relaxed now and that the children seem to enjoy it.
although i am a chinese but sad about this,they just be what their parents want
Kids don't know what they want. Kids left alone would rather just play all day long.
Kids has to be forced to go to school. Kids has to be force to study. Kids has to be forced to do chores. Kids has to be forced to go to bed. Kids has to be forced to learn manners etc. etc. Any less than that and you're not doing your job as a parent.
But some of them really like it though...
Don't be sad. This video looks similar to the training at the UK gymnastics club my kids used to go to. The kids wanted to spend hours there (voluntarily) and surprise surprise this UK gymnastics club "churned" out Olympic gold medalist Max Whitlock. Don't see anyone reporting on how "sad" this club is or that British parents are abusing their kids.
"tHeIr PaRenTs fOrCed tHeM" lol i wish my parents forced me to learn instruments / do sports during my childhood 💀
Why do some ppl in the comments say it is forced? It’s ridiculous ppl make the stereotype that Asians force their children to do everything. Can’t u just let the kids do their own thing?!?! The parents just enrolled them because it’s the kids own decisions. Sheesh u guys are making too much drama about it. Those who comment that they think the parents forced them are actually the ppl who are trying to force the kids’ decisions. Can u guys just let them train peacefully? They dreamed of becoming an Olympian and ur comments are tuning their chance. Those kids decide for themselves not a random stranger.
I can’t help but notice that they must be cold. They’re all training in jackets and thick socks!!
There is no heating indoors that's why! Ive been to china and most places including offices, there is no heating and everyone is bundled up. You get heating in your 5-star hotel room.
@@sariel8406 Even in house??? What do they do in winter?
@@Nico.Robin7 that's right. The northern provinces have heating system. The southern provinces don't have heating system which means you have to install the heater by yourself.
Yes this is why even though China is the biggest manufacturer in the world the emissions rate per person is still like less than 1/4 of the Western nations.
Before I moved to the states I use to be part of Shanghai Fencing team. I saw so many of my friends fail to make it and its really sad.
You send your children to ballet, we send ours to gymnastics.
These kids will have potential!
I love china for their great dedication....Thanks Chinese government for giving them a great life..... But in our country no encouragemant for sports nothing, very less jobs....
For how intense this is It’s odd they aren’t wearing leos
A long time of preparation for the future olympic champions.
Wow, I could never be so disciplined
^^^^^^^^^^^^
The guy above me has probs made hundreds of people paranoid from his pfp and name
@President Trump Lives In Your Head Rent Free that's true
Many news report that they are forced but actually now I sincerely wish my parents gave me more training as a child. They were unwilling to send me for gymnastics because they think it will stunt my growth and would be too tiring. The fact about China is there are still many families from rural places and their kids don’t mind working harder for a better life. I’m in dance, not gymnastics but we do learn some basic flips. It’s not too bad but it takes some nerves.
Why are these kids so cute? 😭
all kid are cute except the not so cute one
Better than kids that playing games and iPad all day at hone 😂
My whole body hurts watching this
This is what i love in china💓💓💓
There isn't much indoor heating in those buildings, judging by the amount of coats and jumpers being worn.
bro doing "not bad" is runer up to champion :/ wild dreams
How do you think China rises so fast? It is because millions of Chinese people work as hard as those children.
All I hope is these children are not prayed upon by abusers or pedophiles.
Learning something is still better than nothing, I don’t think the parents did anything wrong on this. But if the child was forced despite they don’t like it, that is surely a problem.
親愛的弟弟妹妹: 要努力! 加油!
When they win the Olympics they will thank this place
I hate being American, wish I was Chinese or at least me being able to do something like this.
Do you wish to live in a dystopian dictatorship which monitor its population? I think you don't know China. You can just say a little thing and the communist government deport you. Certainly America has many incomvenients, but it is a little bit better in terms of freedom of speech and economic freedom.
@@pepitodegranolax still doesn't change my mind, I'm useless here in America and there's barley any racism in China.
@@pepitodegranolax in the next life, I still wish to live in China
@@pepitodegranolax do U know China well enough though? I lived in both counties and I see myself happy in both. Why can’t he prefers one than another?
@@kenyalmb it's your fault that you are useless.
Me @ 4 I was watching tv they kids @ standing 4 upside down simply amazing %.
its better to try to engage in sports rather than at a very young age you are force into labor or being used by others.
No doubt chines become powerfull nation in the future, dedication,hard work, non stop
I’m scared for these kids and what they have to go through.
I was pushed to do some other activities apart from study when I was younger but I now wish I worked harder in them, I know I could be better and I also wish I knew how to do more things
Not a LEOTARD in sight! Amazing!!
Is this is proper training. I sent my kid to a kids gymnastic session and it was all play with little skill development supervised by teenagers. If ur was like this, I would have kept my son in gymnastics 🤸♂️
if u believe this is too harsh then you are insulting the athletes of your own country
No pain no gain
Most of these kids are found in rural villages. Most likely they would not have even finished high school, but instead drop out to work labor jobs in the city, or become a farmer. Sports training is their way out. Besides fancy sports like shooting, equestrian and ice skating, all of the athletes came from very poor families. China’s Olympic diver Chen Aisen is literally the reason his older sister could afford to go to college. Nearly all of the volleyball players come from small towns with very low GDP, etc.
I feel so bad when Chinese gymnasts don't medal in big competitions because their coaches are probably like bye there are 2 million girls in the country better than u
I hope here in the Philippines also
I don’t mind there dedicated hearts if this is what they love. However if they aren’t truly enjoying it, and has no childhood time to even be themselves or be a normal kid to run and play. I’m not into all that. I believe a child should have his/ her childhood moments, those are the memories that will truly stay with you forever. Reaching for your dreams is great, but don’t forget to enjoy life as well children. Life will pass you by in a blink of an eye.
24th commenter isn't shiny but gotta go with what you have
the fact that you counted the comments... lol
@@fjp9 it shows how many comments there are
@@caminstol2473 when it shows the number of comments it includes the comments within comments. if they took 24th commenter literally, they either counted the number of comments excluding the comments within comments and/or counted it and excluded people who might have commented more than once.
Why is this video constantly reposted about every 8 months for several years now?
Sadly some training camps are nothing short of torture
Why do some of them look so miserable?
The comment section ....war
That's not training. That's ruining children's life. Where they should play and enjoy life, they are training. I'm happy I live in a democratic country.
Wait what. Those parents decided what to do. They will do the same if they lived in America.
Read Jackie Chan autobiography he went through same experience
While I admire their drive to succeed… sports shouldn’t define their success. Some of these kids are as young as 3 years old, let them be kids. If they want to start a sports or something it should be later when they are mature. It’s a lot of pressure trying to be an entity that you are not, so many minds under one roof driving to be one person. Imagine if they failed, it’s kinda sad. And I hope the children don’t lose their sense of self in the journey of becoming something else.
How cute all kids
China finished 7th in team finals… they got lucky with beam gold because Biles had the twisters… China gymnastics needs a reform this child torture isn’t working
I feel like I can’t stop thinking about all the ones who fail out… they have done nothing but train 24/7 since they were at least 5… probably not even by their own choice and then if they get too injured to continue (and I bet there is a lot of those) or just don’t make the cut, what happens? Sad.
Hard working makes you happier
You sound like you are from North Korea
@@J.Paulo. then so what?
Doesn’t seem to be working in the team’s competition so far.
I don't think it is an acceptable method to enroll four or five years children for sport champion trainings. The most important at this age is socialisation and learning through games. Plus, trainings like we see in the video would make physical strains and injuries which could hinder the physical growth of children. These children would not get happy in life if their physical growth is impaired: they will struggle to find a partner for example. Then they are not conscious about what they will do in their future. If I were a father, I would listen a little to the aspiration of my son and if he loves sports, I would help him to subscribe to a specialised cursus which blends academics and sports during the later secondary school period.
Does anyone else realise that these students wear such thick coats because their school dont have central heating.
WAG only: China needs to work on their vaulters and FX specialists! Also Chinese girls tend to have weaker leg muscle strength than US. I remember in the 90s, Mo Huilan and Qui Yuanyuan were able to include DLO or Chusovitina in their FX routine, but nowadays I rarely see them in Chinese FX routines...A typical Chinese FX routine acro elements: 1080 twisting + front punch or dance skill, 720 twisting, 900 twisting ,and double tuck/pike, so pretty much no skills with F or higher difficulty in COP (QiQi and Ou Yushan now can do double-double)
They hid all the whips for the video
I’m not tryna sound silly but I blame my parents for not exposing me to sports or games cuz I literally don’t have any interest in any sports cuz I grew up without any exposure to them
Wow They're so Elastic like a Rubber!!! 😮😯😲
This makes me sad. Most of the kids don't look happy.
I knew everything in China was mass-produced but this is nice.
This is torture!
My best to them
Thank u stranger for reading my comment, know that u are loved and cherished!