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Chinese 8-year-old runs 2,200 miles
Filed under: Tweens, Just For Dads, Health & Safety: Babies
While I do my best to stay fit, I'm lucky if I can make it 2 miles without sucking wind and getting dizzy. What makes that all the more embarrassing is that this 8-year-old can outrun me -- by about 2,198 miles.
Only July 3, Zhang Huimin started getting up at 2:30 in the morning, and running 40 miles (that's about 1.5 marathons) before stopping, falling asleep, and doing it all again the next day. She finally stopped for good this past Sunday -- having run a total of more than 2,200 miles.
According to the girl's father -- who rode alongside on a bicycle -- he doesn't "push," and makes the training "fun for her." He says it's in preparation for the 2016 Olympics (Huimin will be too young to qualify for the 2008 games).
But others say this kind of training is insane, and basically amounts to child abuse. Even Zhang's wife has left him over the way he treats their daughter.
I have to agree. Obviously the girl is talented, but 40 miles a day for almost 2 months? What an awful thing to do to an 8-year-old who has more important things to do -- like having a normal childhood, for instance.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
8-27-2007 @ 8:53PM
Nancy Toby said...This is one of the reasons I have my doubts about the planned 2010 Youth Olympics. This kind of training will go on all over the world for 14-18 year olds planning to compete, and for years in advance so young athletes can qualify at 14 years of age.
Reply
8-27-2007 @ 10:02PM
Karen said...My son is a competitive athlete as well, but I let him lead the way. He will see if he does not train, then his results will be lackluster. I just hope he does his sport (cycling) for the long term and is still riding at 80 yrs old - that will be success - not the number of medals won.
Reply
8-27-2007 @ 10:18PM
Angie Felton said...Now "Baby we were born to run" is stuck in my head.
Reply