What is the peak age for gymnasts?

16
Over the years, 16 has been known to be the prime age because it is a time in a gymnast’s life when her body is developed enough to be strong and powerful, but not too broken down from the effects of rigorous training.

What body type do gymnasts have?

Gymnasts are strong, flexible, and have superior balance and control. In women’s artistic gymnastics, gymnasts usually fall into two body types: thin and willowy like 2008 all-around Olympic gold medalist Nastia Luikin, and short and muscular like 2008 teammate and balance beam gold medalist Shawn Johnson.

Why do gymnasts have delayed puberty?

Growth velocity of the trunk accelerated later in the gymnasts than in control subjects, despite continuing gymnastic training. Thus gymnastics delays puberty, but puberty may eventually emerge, promoting upper body growth, which may impair gymnastic performance, forcing retirement.

Why do gymnasts have to be 16?

Age restrictions were supposedly designed not so much to level the playing field in terms of skill and physical advantages, as to protect child athletes from injury. However, critics dispute the science behind the policy and argue that the answer is to prohibit junior gymnasts from competing in senior competitions.

Why are all gymnasts flat?

Amenorrhea in gymnastics has been attributed to a combination of extreme dieting and exertion; another hypothesis is that naturally late-blooming gymnasts gravitate to a sport that physically suits them. Dr. Aurelia Nattiv of UCLA says the sport’s intense training and emphasis on low body fat delay puberty.

Is gymnastics bad for mental health?

Gymnastics has much more to mentally overcome than other sports. In many sports your attempt is only risking missing the shot and losing the game. However with gymnastics, your attempt could risk a severe head or neck injury that could affect your health for the rest of your life.

Do gymnasts get waxed?

Women gymnasts have come to resemble swimmers in their uniform lack of body hair—waxing being an unspoken mandate that has as much to do with aesthetics as with aerodynamics. (Well groomed in her appearance.)