At special sports schools in China, girls barely out of kindergarten are subjected to a strict regime designed to push the elasticity of the human body to its limits. Their goal: Olympic and/or world titles. At the sports school the day begins at 5.30 a.m. A strict timetable tailored around at least four hours of training a day, fits in schooling, rest and meals composed more for their nutritional value than their taste. The lights are switched off at 9 p.m. The girls are groomed to reach their peak when they are 14 or 15 years old. Children from remote rural areas, who have known poverty since they were born and who have developed willpower and discipline at an early age, score particularly highly at the school.

At special sports schools in China, girls barely out of kindergarten are subjected to a strict regime designed to push the elasticity of the human body to its limits. Their goal: Olympic and/or world titles. At the sports school the day begins at 5.30 a.m. A strict timetable tailored around at least four hours of training a day, fits in schooling, rest and meals composed more for their nutritional value than their taste. The lights are switched off at 9 p.m. The girls are groomed to reach their peak when they are 14 or 15 years old. Children from remote rural areas, who have known poverty since they were born and who have developed willpower and discipline at an early age, score particularly highly at the school.

At special sports schools in China, girls barely out of kindergarten are subjected to a strict regime designed to push the elasticity of the human body to its limits. Their goal: Olympic and/or world titles. At the sports school the day begins at 5.30 a.m. A strict timetable tailored around at least four hours of training a day, fits in schooling, rest and meals composed more for their nutritional value than their taste. The lights are switched off at 9 p.m. The girls are groomed to reach their peak when they are 14 or 15 years old. Children from remote rural areas, who have known poverty since they were born and who have developed willpower and discipline at an early age, score particularly highly at the school.

At special sports schools in China, girls barely out of kindergarten are subjected to a strict regime designed to push the elasticity of the human body to its limits. Their goal: Olympic and/or world titles. At the sports school the day begins at 5.30 a.m. A strict timetable tailored around at least four hours of training a day, fits in schooling, rest and meals composed more for their nutritional value than their taste. The lights are switched off at 9 p.m. The girls are groomed to reach their peak when they are 14 or 15 years old. Children from remote rural areas, who have known poverty since they were born and who have developed willpower and discipline at an early age, score particularly highly at the school.

At special sports schools in China, girls barely out of kindergarten are subjected to a strict regime designed to push the elasticity of the human body to its limits. Their goal: Olympic and/or world titles. At the sports school the day begins at 5.30 a.m. A strict timetable tailored around at least four hours of training a day, fits in schooling, rest and meals composed more for their nutritional value than their taste. The lights are switched off at 9 p.m. The girls are groomed to reach their peak when they are 14 or 15 years old. Children from remote rural areas, who have known poverty since they were born and who have developed willpower and discipline at an early age, score particularly highly at the school.

At special sports schools in China, girls barely out of kindergarten are subjected to a strict regime designed to push the elasticity of the human body to its limits. Their goal: Olympic and/or world titles. At the sports school the day begins at 5.30 a.m. A strict timetable tailored around at least four hours of training a day, fits in schooling, rest and meals composed more for their nutritional value than their taste. The lights are switched off at 9 p.m. The girls are groomed to reach their peak when they are 14 or 15 years old. Children from remote rural areas, who have known poverty since they were born and who have developed willpower and discipline at an early age, score particularly highly at the school.

At special sports schools in China, girls barely out of kindergarten are subjected to a strict regime designed to push the elasticity of the human body to its limits. Their goal: Olympic and/or world titles. At the sports school the day begins at 5.30 a.m. A strict timetable tailored around at least four hours of training a day, fits in schooling, rest and meals composed more for their nutritional value than their taste. The lights are switched off at 9 p.m. The girls are groomed to reach their peak when they are 14 or 15 years old. Children from remote rural areas, who have known poverty since they were born and who have developed willpower and discipline at an early age, score particularly highly at the school.

At special sports schools in China, girls barely out of kindergarten are subjected to a strict regime designed to push the elasticity of the human body to its limits. Their goal: Olympic and/or world titles. At the sports school the day begins at 5.30 a.m. A strict timetable tailored around at least four hours of training a day, fits in schooling, rest and meals composed more for their nutritional value than their taste. The lights are switched off at 9 p.m. The girls are groomed to reach their peak when they are 14 or 15 years old. Children from remote rural areas, who have known poverty since they were born and who have developed willpower and discipline at an early age, score particularly highly at the school.

A moment of grace and beauty in a young life dominated by self-discipline and pain. At special sports schools in China, girls barely out of kindergarten are subjected to a strict regime designed to push the elasticity of the human body to its limits. Their goal: Olympic and/or world titles. At the sports school the day begins at 5.30 a.m. A strict timetable tailored around at least four hours of training a day, fits in schooling, rest and meals composed more for their nutritional value than their taste. The lights are switched off at 9 p.m. The girls are groomed to reach their peak when they are 14 or 15 years old. Children from remote rural areas, who have known poverty since they were born and who have developed willpower and discipline at an early age, score particularly highly at the school.

At special sports schools in China, girls barely out of kindergarten are subjected to a strict regime designed to push the elasticity of the human body to its limits. Their goal: Olympic and/or world titles. At the sports school the day begins at 5.30 a.m. A strict timetable tailored around at least four hours of training a day, fits in schooling, rest and meals composed more for their nutritional value than their taste. The lights are switched off at 9 p.m. The girls are groomed to reach their peak when they are 14 or 15 years old. Children from remote rural areas, who have known poverty since they were born and who have developed willpower and discipline at an early age, score particularly highly at the school.

At special sports schools in China, girls barely out of kindergarten are subjected to a strict regime designed to push the elasticity of the human body to its limits. Their goal: Olympic and/or world titles. At the sports school the day begins at 5.30 a.m. A strict timetable tailored around at least four hours of training a day, fits in schooling, rest and meals composed more for their nutritional value than their taste. The lights are switched off at 9 p.m. The girls are groomed to reach their peak when they are 14 or 15 years old. Children from remote rural areas, who have known poverty since they were born and who have developed willpower and discipline at an early age, score particularly highly at the school.

Calluses on the hands of a young gymnast. At special sports schools in China, girls barely out of kindergarten are subjected to a strict regime designed to push the elasticity of the human body to its limits. Their goal: Olympic and/or world titles. At the sports school the day begins at 5.30 a.m. A strict timetable tailored around at least four hours of training a day, fits in schooling, rest and meals composed more for their nutritional value than their taste. The lights are switched off at 9 p.m. The girls are groomed to reach their peak when they are 14 or 15 years old. Children from remote rural areas, who have known poverty since they were born and who have developed willpower and discipline at an early age, score particularly highly at the school.

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