Kind of a stupid gymnastics question?

Question

OK, all these women gymnasts are tiny. I say they make great gymnasts because they are tiny. My friend says all the impact on their bodies stunts their growth. Who is right? Thanks!

Answer 1

I believe you are both correct.

Answer 2

I guess hormones, their diet and all the pills they push in to their body helps them look the way they do.  Guess all the exercise does its part too...

Answer 3

Well I think being tiny does help. Most of these girls start gymnastics when they are evry young and the more they do it the more it does stunt growth (to an extent). But it is true, the less body they have to move they better the probably are.

Answer 4

They usually take steroids which affect their normal growth. I should say none of the above is right :D.

Answer 5

Smaller and lighter bodies can spin faster during flips and twists. This is a physics thing, F=ma or something like that. So it can help. The strenght to weight ratio of the girls must be amazing too.

If body impact stunted growth, football and hockey players would be the shortest people on earth.

The floor and beam are sprung. So they are not jumping on cement.

Lets face it, a 300lbs linebacker carries more impact than vaulting onto a cushioned floor.

Answer 6

i think your right. i know alot of gymnist that are tall and normal sized. even some that have been doing it there whole life

Answer 7

Well, ask your friend this: does playing basketball make you taller?  Does all the jumping and reaching toward the hoop stretch your body out?

Of course not!  It's just that tall people have an easier time playing basketball, so they're the ones who stick with it and progress to the higher levels.  Short people play basketball, too, but most get passed up by their taller teammates and eventually drop out.

Gymnastics is the same way.  Shorter, more compact people have an easier time performing the more difficult skills, so they're the ones who advance to the higher levels.  There are plenty of taller gymnasts, but you just don't see them at the Olympic level.  

Answer 8

You are right.

She isn't really right, because I was 4'8 when I was 11 and I quit and I'm 13 and 5'1 now.

Answer 9

no it effects them in the long run they are small so they have less to carry

(i know from experiance)

Answer 10

Your friend probably has some truth to it. That's why 16 is the minimum age requirement, as to not damage muscles and bones that haven't fully developed yet...

Answer 11

I have to go with you i know how hey feel i am kinda short.

Answer 12

you are right. if they were like, 6 foot 5 they probably wouldn't be as graceful as they are when they are smaller. your friend is wrong...and an idiot

Answer 13

They aren't all super tiny. I think it just has to do with the genetics in different countries. All the Chinese gymnast are tiny because they are supposedly very young. There is lots of controversy about many of them being under 16 years of age (the legal age to compete inthe olympics). However if you look at the american girls they have thick thighs and muscular arms, and they aren't abnormally short.

So to answer your question... Gymnastics doesn't stunt your growth, and it probably does make it easier for them to do the moves being little (for the most part). However, not all of the gymnast are "tiny".

Answer 14

i think u are.. lol

Answer 15

probably right .

Answer 16

well they arent really tiny.....there like buff,have u seen the way the walk,the only reason they r tiny is cause they eat right and there always on the matts.

yay-if it helped

nay- if it diddnt

Answer 17

A rigid workout schedule and a restrictive diet helps keep those athletes in shape.  Some of the events are much easier on a petite athlete than it would be on a taller athlete . . . but just being tiny does not make you good, nor does excess training stunt growth (those swimmers are tall, lean and muscular).  It just comes down what produces the best result.  One of the US gold metal winner is 5' 2'' and another US silver metal winner is 4'9''.  Sure the 4'9" young lady is petite, given that the average height for women is 5'4".  Given that, being 5'2" is not that short.