Jim Yardley, “Racial ‘Handicaps’ and a Great Sprint Forward”, The New York Times, 2004 September 8.
Liu Xiang, a high hurdler, has proved what many Chinese have long felt was not possible: that yellow men can jump, and sprint, too.
“It is a kind of miracle,” Mr. Liu, 21, exulted at a post-race news conference after tying the world record and winning gold in the 110-meter high hurdles. “It is unbelievable – a Chinese, an Asian, has won this event.”
He added: “It is a proud moment not only for China, but for Asia and all people who share the same yellow skin color.”
In many countries, particularly the United States, this kind of racial stereotyping often touches a raw nerve in society. But among Chinese, the proposition that genetic differences have made Asian athletes slower in sprinting than their American, African or European rivals is a widely accepted maxim, if an unproven one.
While Chinese are ”suited” to sports like Ping-Pong, badminton and gymnastics that require agility and technique, the newspaper noted, purely athletic events are different. Chinese had ”congenital shortcomings” and “genetic differences” that created disadvantages against black and white athletes.
In an effort to give this halftime pep talk a positive spin, the commentary urged Chinese athletes to work harder. “If Chinese people want to make their mark in the major Olympic competitions, they have to break through the fatalism that race determines everything,” the newspaper advised.
Mr. Liu’s victory has not fully erased this ingrained belief. Chinese sports officials have explained his win, in part, by noting that hurdles also require technique, not just raw speed, an observation that invokes another, more positive, stereotype – that Chinese are disciplined and smart. His coach has been credited with developing special training methods to overcome any racial deficiencies.
….
Yao Ming, the Chinese basketball star, was one of the first athletes to touch this chord in the national psyche. His stardom with the Houston Rockets has made him the most famous athlete in China. He is popular not just because he is a good player, but because he is tall. At 7 feet 5, he helped dispel the Western stereotype that all Chinese are short.
But if Mr. Yao was chosen to carry the Chinese flag at the opening ceremony, it was Mr. Liu who was selected to carry it at the closing. He is already being deluged with endorsement and entertainment offers. A record company reportedly offered him $600,000.
….
There are no credible scientific studies to underpin the idea that Asians are physically inferior to other athletes in sprinting. Nor are Chinese alone in succumbing to ingrained racial beliefs: the Olympics victory of the white American sprinter Jeremy Wariner in the 400-meter dash startled a fair number of people in the United States. He was the first white winner of the event in 40 years.
But Ms. Li said she doubted China could compete in events like pure sprinting.
“Short distance races are physically intensive,” Ms. Li said. “They require a lot of physical abilities, like speed and sudden strength. Although we have no research data, it has been an open fact that Asians and Chinese are disadvantaged when compared to Europeans and Americans.”The Finns have a word that translates literally as “ass-legged” [If any Finnish readers could give us the original Finnish or expound further on this word, it would be appreciated.] to describe those with short legs, i.e. those whose ass is literally close to their feet.
Most Chinese are ass-legged.
You’d better believe this puts them at a disadvantage in running events, both long-distance and sprinting (though may well have made it easier for Mr. Liu to clear hurdles cleanly).
And unlike Michael Johnson, Chinese torsos don’t make up for what Chinese legs lack in height. Yao Ming dispelling stereotypes doesn’t do a damn thing to change that. *grumblegrumble*
Also, whether studies ever bear out the idea that the Chinese are at a congenital disadvantage in track & field or not, the frankness and forthrightness with which the Chinese, and Asians in general, approach race is refreshing compared with the apprehension and anxiety with which Westerners usually do.
I wish I were a little bit taller
I wish I were a baller
Posted by jeet at 07:18 AM