Pinsent shocked by China training

Olympic rowing legend Sir Matthew Pinsent has said he's shocked by the way young Chinese gymnasts are treated as they train for the 2008 Olympics.

Although hitting children is illegal in China, he says some parents let the trainers hit their kids "to make them hard".

The gold medallist was in China for BBC radio, and claims the children were in pain while they were training.

He said: "I was really shocked by some of what was going on."

I do think those kids are being abused Sir Matthew Pinsent

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Some people say choosing China as the host for the 2008 Games was a bad idea, because the country has a bad record on human rights.

Pinsent said: "I know it is gymnastics and that sport has to start its athletes young, but I have to say I was really shocked.

"I was wondering whether the western approach compared to the eastern approach is a bit different, but I do think those kids are being abused."