Anon Adults in USAG competitions

[Anonymous (cfac)]

We have a group of XCEL sapphires who are in their 20s, Some pushing their later 20s, who regularly compete against teenage athletes. While I am all for adults continuing to participate in a sport they love, isn’t there a provision for adult open categories? These are full grown adults competing against teenagers and regularly sweeping the podium. Our region has very few sapphires and our older teenagers (16-17) are competing against 27 year olds because we have either 1 division or are grouped “younger” and “older”. Does this happen in all regions?

 

[Anonymous (e440)]

Adult gymnastics is becoming more popular, but there are still very few opportunities for competition. There were a few Xcel (gold? Platinum) and a few DP level 7/8s in our area.

As far as groupings depending on how many total athletes there are, and how many adults, it may not always make sense to have a separate age division. In our area it definitely did not.

 

[Dahlialover]

I don’t think that female gymnasts in their 20s have a significant physiological advantage over female gymnasts in their teens, so I don’t think there is any inherent unfairness.

 

[Anonymous (5298)]

At my dd's gym there are 3 adults in their late 20s-mid 30s that are competing either xcel platinum or diamond. They are always in the oldest age group which is usually 17+ or 18+. They are on the podium occasionally but never a podium sweep. I don't think that there is any unfairness here. I don't know if any of them even did gymnastics in college - possibly club. One of them started as a gold and has moved up over several years.