Eigenvector:

If some girl who is 16 going on 21 competes, at least you won't have to face the notion that some 12 year old got bullied into ruining her social life so that East Germany or China could get a gold medal.

Awesome username, Eigenvector.

But a point: even average 12 year olds in China don't have "social lives" by American standards. Americans go on to complain when these 12 year olds grow into 24 year old grad students and try to study (including taking TA jobs) in America, however--"They're taking spots that would have gone to homegrown students! We should be encouraging our own to get Masters' degrees in STEM fields! Our technological advantage is ebbing!" Ah, yes. But your 12 year olds aren't expected to maneuver on x and y as Liukin does on high and low.