Once comrades, China’s athletes are now celebrities

Dickey, Jena, Germany — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:18:39 GMT

Well, it shouldn't be a surprise isn't it? Great fame comes with a lot of $$$ the price of losing privacy, isn't this always true in today's 24-hrs cable news world? I guess you can say the same thing about Kobe Bryant, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, David Beckham, Maria Sharapova... Not to mention Guo is the biggest female athletic in a country with a 1.3billion population.
I really don't see the point of this article other than stating the obvious.

Once comrades, China’s athletes are now celebrities

Mike, Chicago — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:01:53 GMT

Great moment for China and Chinese athletes. All cultural differences aside, I think the human experience of glory, reaction to fame, and national pride can be shared by all competitors.

-proud Chinese American(born in Chicago before you assume anything)

Once comrades, China’s athletes are now celebrities

lemoncritic — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:15:12 GMT

JingJing has been a celeb for many years, everybody in China knows that.

So, is this the new news?

Once comrades, China’s athletes are now celebrities

K.Wilson — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:52:31 GMT

It is news to some of us, I missed the Athens Olympics and this article is the first I heard about her outside of the competition. If you already know it, skip it and leave it for those of us who STILL want to know.

Once comrades, China’s athletes are now celebrities

Steve, San Diego — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:01:06 GMT

I think shes one of the most dominating athletes of her sport... the fact that shes so good looking and more than a little attractive is all bonuses. Nice to see a "normal" looking woman and not some steroid pumped dwarf or obviously underage kid or even some whining prima dona.

She gets a 10 in my medal round.

I think atheletes like Guo Jingjing and Micheal Phelps are people we can all be proud of.

signed: not a Chinese or Asian, just a semi-normal Qua Lao sports fan who admires and can only respect great athletes like her.

Once comrades, China’s athletes are now celebrities

fred anderson — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:41:27 GMT

Good for them. Every country needs celebrities to entertain the masses.

God knows the Russians could use a few thousand right now...to blunt the overbearing ego and image of one demigod that is leading them to destruction...as did one German leader of a similar bent in the 1930s...

Once comrades, China’s athletes are now celebrities

Nakita Akita Denver Colorado USA — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 01:19:03 GMT

It's odd but on my television, in the pair diving, the girl on the right's leg seemed to take on a life of it's own. This did not seem to count against them in any way. Is this because they are the host country? What about the lip-syncing children and the 14 year old gymnast? All because they are the host country?

Once comrades, China’s athletes are now celebrities

french R. — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 03:15:27 GMT

this is one of the greatest olympiads since i was born and that was in 1959,great sportmanship from the participants,a lot tobe desired from the judges

Once comrades, China’s athletes are now celebrities

T. Adams — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 03:28:04 GMT

A touch of human nature overpowering the "people". In essence the "people" is the government and now the Chinese are experiencing the true nature of capitalism. While the government tries to bind it within economic boundries, it has a far further reach. Another door cracked open against China's governmental oppression. Can't keep it just cracked a little, and sure can't close it.

Once comrades, China’s athletes are now celebrities

Israel, Miami, Florida — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 03:41:01 GMT

I think it's good for these nation's once seen as impoverished and stricken with the sickness of communism still have people in it that not only have the human spirit to overcome those obsticales, but take the level of human dignity to a whole new level.
The Chinese are good people overall but still have a long way to go to live the realism of the 'American Dream.'

Once comrades, China’s athletes are now celebrities

Taina, Taiwan — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 23:33:02 GMT

Yes, China still has a long way to go for improvement but the "American Dream" is not what China needs.

MSN provides more fair coverage of China than BBC.

Once comrades, China’s athletes are now celebrities

Eugene Barrow, Jr Vanceboro, NC — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:55:01 GMT

Those of you who believe China is a capalist nation are insnae. You've no direction nor sense of history. China is the same old communist nation it has always been. Only a communist nation prevents its peoples from surfing the internet as they'd like to surf.
Capalist? Ha! Why all the filters on their computers so only news that China wishes to be sent can be sent. Get your heads out of the sand people. Why did they pull down an internet site that clearly stated a gymnast was 13 yrs old yet a year later is suddendly 16 years old?
Why not simply explain you made a mistake in saying she was really 15 and a half and correct the mistake? The same old communist ways kicked into gear.
Just as Lenin said about the USSR, "when weak and unable to defeat your adversary back up and take as long as as it takes to rebuild and become strong".
Deceit is the strongest weapon one can possess.

Once comrades, China’s athletes are now celebrities

David, Houston TX — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:30:52 GMT

Israel, is calling an opponent a "fattie" a positive demonstration of human dignity? Let's not judge these Chinese differently than we would judge one of our own based on their behavior.

I don't even think much of displaying expensive jewelry while competing in the Olympics. Actually I don't like her very much based on all these stories, but she is a wonderfully skilled diver and physically quite attractive.

Once comrades, China’s athletes are now celebrities

ejacks, oakland USA — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:25:50 GMT

E Barrow: I don't have the freedom to surf the web at my workplace; too many websites are blocked and emails are monitored. Lying and denying is not unheard of in this country. Our politicians and CEOs practice it often.

Once comrades, China’s athletes are now celebrities

forget — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:25:46 GMT

To Israel of Miami, FL:
You said Chinese can never have "American Dream". American dream hardly exist in America these days, much less in China. Besides, Chinese do not need American dream. Chinese are working towards their own great future.