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I can think of 2 different instagram gymnasts who competed in level 10 at age 9.
Those were my thoughts as well. It seems that a slower pace where the body isn't beaten up for so long may be a better path.That is just mind blowing to me. I imagine that it takes a lot of innate talent to get to that point at age 9 or 10, but honestly it has to take a lot of hours in the gym too... can anyone tell me what the benefit is of getting to that level at that age? Aside from learning skills before puberty and fear sets in... so many years yet to come - 6 or 7 before eligible for the Olympics, 8 or 9 before college... how in the world does one sustain that level for so long? That is just a whole world I will never experience...hard to wrap my head around it.
This is totally based off my observations from little gymnasts who are active on social media but the only ones ive seen competing 10 at that young of an age are in HOPES and doing a level 10 meet here or there as preperation for HOPES competitions. I havent noticed any doing full level 10 seasons. Given that the youngest age category for HOPES is 10-11, but you don't actually have to be 10 to compete in it, I suppose it makes a tiny amount of sense. For the record, looking at the level 10 score of the girls I am thinking of, they aren't very high scoring at all. I am not sure if its because they lack the ability, or if its just that they're doing HOPES routines which may not match the composition requirements of level 10.Those were my thoughts as well. It seems that a slower pace where the body isn't beaten up for so long may be a better path.
Lily has a teammate that is 10 now and is a level 9 and will more than likely move to level 10 after this season. So she will be a 10 year old level 10. She is still in public school and maxes out at 25 hours of practice each week. So it can be done without having to spend every waking moment in the gym.
I agree but trust me when I say that our gym is on the low end when it comes to training hours. Almost all gyms in the south do 2 a day practices with school at the gym. Our girls are doing level 10 and elite and are still able to have a life outside of the gym.Well... 25 hours/wk is a A LOT. My dd (12 years old, 6th grade) goes 16 hours/wk and we barely have time to fit everything in. Maybe it's easier if these girls homeschool and at 9 or 10 obviously the school work isn't going to be as intense, but let's not pretend that 25 hours a week isn't a lot at that age or any age to be honest. We are all conditioned as gymnast parents (my non-gymnast parent friends cannot fathom 16 hours a week!) but the reality is that is more hours than a part time job and we're talking elementary aged children. In light of that, I'm trying to understand the urgency to get to that level so young.
I agree but trust me when I say that our gym is on the low end when it comes to training hours. Almost all gyms in the south do 2 a day practices with school at the gym. Our girls are doing level 10 and elite and are still able to have a life outside of the gym.
I agree but trust me when I say that our gym is on the low end when it comes to training hours. Almost all gyms in the south do 2 a day practices with school at the gym. Our girls are doing level 10 and elite and are still able to have a life outside of the gym.
25 hours after school is basically every out of school free moment in the gym though- I get that your hours are lower than a lot others (and I’ve seen some crazy hours for even compulsory so yes by comparison, low) but even if you allow only one day off that’s still around 4 hours a day 6 days a week- after school- for a 9/10 yr old that’s school then gym then bed- sunup to sundown.
I don't get it. It seems like such a conflict of interest for school to be at the gym. I wonder what takes priority? I really feel for these broken beat up girls who leave gymnastics and then realize that they haven't gotten a proper education for years.