Why are all the gymnasts short?

Ingold

We hypothesized that short stature and delayed bone age are present at the start of gymnastics, and training delays growth, producing short stature. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10657818&dopt=AbstractPlus Sep 17 07, 12:04 PM

billythebrit

A gymnast is someone who pracises gymnastics - I'm 5"10 and can flip and cartwheel about. Many male gymnasts are fine, strapping examples of men. Maybe you were referring only to the females. Sep 17 07, 1:20 PM

Tommyfun

But they aren't 1.85 0r 1.90 m tall, aren't they? Sep 17 07, 1:28 PM

Baloo55th

Many female gymnasts in competition are rather younger than athletes in other fields - fence they tend to be smaller. (Yes, I know age and size don't always go together - I've met a 10 year old girl who was taller than me...) Sep 17 07, 1:43 PM

jonnowales

It is generally females that are shorter, many articles out on the web are saying that normal growth continues for female gymnasts - hence, why they are genrally younger than in other events. Sep 17 07, 1:54 PM

zbeckabee

Not all gymnasts are short. Case in point: David Robinson During the physical tests that the Naval Academy gives all incoming plebes he scored higher in gymnastics than anyone in his class. This was even more impressive due to his height: 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) at the time. And then there's this story: A few years ago when former San Antonio Spurs coach Bob Hill wanted to give his players a day off, he began the scheduled practice by announcing: "Okay, there's no practice today if . . . " He paused for dramatic effect and looked toward center David Robinson. ". . . if David can walk from foul line to foul line . . ." Another pause. ". . . on his hands." Hill knew what would happen next. Robinson flipped his 7-foot-1 frame over and became the world's tallest gymnast, striding down the court on his hands as teammates cheered. End of practice. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nba/longterm/1999/finals/articles/spurs16.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Robinson_%28basketball%29 Sep 17 07, 2:40 PM

Army_George

the majority of them are short because it lowers their center of balance.. this helps when they are doing their thing but its not essential.. thats why not all are short but most are Sep 17 07, 6:49 PM

lanfranco

The reality is that small, short gymnasts who, particularly in the case of women, have not yet reached full puberty can perform difficult and dangerous moves more easily than taller, bulkier people. At the elite, Olympic level, even the men tend to be short and slim. David Robinson was never such a gymnast. Here's former Olympic gymnast, Bart Connor, now a coach, on the subject: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPKeiK6w4y0 Sep 17 07, 8:30 PM