Why are female gymnasts so much younger than male gymnasts?

Question

This is the only event where I have noticed this, although there may be more.

Across the board for the 2008 Olympics, for ALL nations, the majority of the female gymnasts were in their mid-late teens (allegedly), but the majority of the male gymnasts were in their mid-late twenties (closer to what you might expect to the peak performance of an athlete's career).

Why is youth an advantage for female gymnasts?

Answer 1

Because the Cinese gymnasts are born LATER than te other gymnasts? :)  As in, underage?

Answer 2

It has to do with physical growth and skills.  Men's events like rings, pommel horse, and parallel bars take a lot of physical strength.  Just to have the strength to do some of these skills, men have to be in their 20s sometimes they can get by with late teens.

And biological, women hit puberty (okay, maybe not all gymnasts have hit puberty) and develop earlier than men.

As a gymnast gets older and "matures," she has to adjust her new figure which isn't easy to do.  That's why most gymnasts peak between the ages of 14-18.

Answer 3

thats a good point. maybe cause mature women have babies n the such whereas teen girls just train n compete, thats their life.