Why is there even a min age in gymnastics?

Question

Why is there even a min age? A 14 boy is allowed to dive in the olympics, why not the younger girls in gymnastics?

If they are the best in the world, then they are the best in the world.

PS....GO USA!

Answer 1

There are sub committees within each event, generally linked to other organizations in the same sport.  That's why there are sanctioned world records and Olympic records and how Olympic records could become world records.  It's these sanctioned bodies that make up the rules for their sport.

Answer 2

The reason that there is a minimum age is because the younger competitors would have an advantage over the older competitors because they are more agile and such

Answer 3

yea i agree with you there should not even be a min age limit because people will just ignore it.

to answer your question its because they dont want to damage the body of the kids.

Answer 4

The age to compete in gymnastics at the olympics was 14 until the 1992 olympics when elite competitors considered of  underweight, prepubertal teenagers and concerns were raised about athlete welfare.

The FIG responded to this trend by raising the minimum age requirement for international elite competition to sixteen in 1997. This, combined with changes in the Code of Points and evolving popular opinion in the sport, have seen older gymnasts return to competition.

although i do agree with you, it seems very unfair that a 14 year boy can do a sport such as diving in the olympics, (which in a way is quite similar to gymnastics). when gymnasts often reach there peak at 14, but the reason above is the reason why they changed the age limit.  

Answer 5

the smaller and lighter you are the faster and higher you will go.