Muddlethru
Proud Parent
- Mar 16, 2011
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- 3,225
I often wondered when gymnasts reach their peak gymnastically and/or at what age can one determine the maximum potential of a gymnast. Studies have shown that the physical peak for most humans are 23-35 (average I got from various studies). Men peak a little later then women. This peak performance clearly does not apply to gymnasts. Many say, sometimes a great compulsory gymnast becomes an average optional gymnast and vice a versa. I always felt a good gymnast is good from beginning to end. I watch my daughter and wonder, has she reached her peak or is she still on her way up. With minimal research, this is what I found:
Weight to strength ratio:
When a person grows bigger they also grow stronger, but the laws of physics dictates that they increase in weight more than they gain strength. And with the jumps and leaps favored by the judges a smaller body can do them "better" than a heavier body. The break point for gymnasts is where the increased skill of prolonged training is negated by the poorer weight-to-strength ratio of continued growth.
The strength of a muscle is roughly decided by its cross section, the thicker it gets the stronger it gets.
To make it easy let’s imagine a cube shaped muscle, 1x1x1 in size. It’ll have a cross section of 1 which gives it a strength of 1, and a volume of 1.
Now lets look at another imaginary muscle, this time it’s 2x2x2. It is double the width, double the height and double the length of the previous one, but it’ll have 4 times the cross section - making it 4 times as strong. But at the same time it has 8 times the volume, so if it’s made up of the same stuff as the first muscle it’s 8 times heavier too. This applies to everything in the human body.
What's important for a gymnast isn't how strong they are compared to something else(as for a weight lifter, javelin thrower or similar), but how strong they are compared to what they weigh. And that's why growing is especially hard on gymnasts.
Power to weight ratio:
Today's elite female gymnasts must be small, lean (low percent body fat), and well-muscled which results in a high power-to-weight ratio. Generally, female gymnasts reach their peak power-to-weight ratio prior to puberty and are ready for elite international competition at the minimum age requirement. And since it takes at least 6 years to learn the complex gymnastics skills, training starts at a very young age.
A youthful body is inherently more flexible, (less calcification has occurred).
Reflex patterns are more easily established in youth (the old dog issue).
However the controlling factor remains to be the power to weight ratio. As women mature their body fat percentage tends to increase as they reach child bearing age thus reducing that ratio. In many other Olympic sports the power to weight issue is not as paramount i.e. equipment or endurance intensive sports and/or team sports. Events such as, Canoe / kayak, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Soccer, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Modern pentathlon, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Softball, Table tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Biathlon, Bobsled, Curling, Ice Hockey, Skating and Skiing are all populated by athletes of varying ages.
Just thought I'd share. Feel free to add any other information you have on this subject.
Weight to strength ratio:
When a person grows bigger they also grow stronger, but the laws of physics dictates that they increase in weight more than they gain strength. And with the jumps and leaps favored by the judges a smaller body can do them "better" than a heavier body. The break point for gymnasts is where the increased skill of prolonged training is negated by the poorer weight-to-strength ratio of continued growth.
The strength of a muscle is roughly decided by its cross section, the thicker it gets the stronger it gets.
To make it easy let’s imagine a cube shaped muscle, 1x1x1 in size. It’ll have a cross section of 1 which gives it a strength of 1, and a volume of 1.
Now lets look at another imaginary muscle, this time it’s 2x2x2. It is double the width, double the height and double the length of the previous one, but it’ll have 4 times the cross section - making it 4 times as strong. But at the same time it has 8 times the volume, so if it’s made up of the same stuff as the first muscle it’s 8 times heavier too. This applies to everything in the human body.
What's important for a gymnast isn't how strong they are compared to something else(as for a weight lifter, javelin thrower or similar), but how strong they are compared to what they weigh. And that's why growing is especially hard on gymnasts.
Power to weight ratio:
Today's elite female gymnasts must be small, lean (low percent body fat), and well-muscled which results in a high power-to-weight ratio. Generally, female gymnasts reach their peak power-to-weight ratio prior to puberty and are ready for elite international competition at the minimum age requirement. And since it takes at least 6 years to learn the complex gymnastics skills, training starts at a very young age.
A youthful body is inherently more flexible, (less calcification has occurred).
Reflex patterns are more easily established in youth (the old dog issue).
However the controlling factor remains to be the power to weight ratio. As women mature their body fat percentage tends to increase as they reach child bearing age thus reducing that ratio. In many other Olympic sports the power to weight issue is not as paramount i.e. equipment or endurance intensive sports and/or team sports. Events such as, Canoe / kayak, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Soccer, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Modern pentathlon, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Softball, Table tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Biathlon, Bobsled, Curling, Ice Hockey, Skating and Skiing are all populated by athletes of varying ages.
Just thought I'd share. Feel free to add any other information you have on this subject.