Tokyo Olympics 2021: Why are Gymnasts so short?
Follow Us
If you follow Gymnastics closely, you might have wondered “Why are gymnasts so short?” Is it that gymnastics is more suited for people who are short? Or is it that gymnastics stunts gymnasts’ growth?
It is a pretty similar question to “What did come first: the Hen or the Egg?” In this case, it’s a combination of both. So, here’s why Gymnasts are short:
The shorter you are, the better you may do!
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
It is for a reason that gymnasts are mostly short. The shorter a gymnast is, the easier it is for them to rotate in the air or spin at high speeds. It is hard for long limbs and joints to handle intensive training. It can also be explained by keeping a law of physics in mind.
The larger you are, the larger your moments of inertia will be. Hence, it would become harder to rotate and large turning forces will be required to generate the same number of acrobatic moments.
Trending
Dale Jr Unmasks Teresa Earnhardt’s Refusal to Sell Him His Late Father’s Prized Possession That Forced Relocation Move
April 17, 2024 12:29 PM EDT
Restricted by NFL Contract, Simone Biles Reveals if Jonathan Owens Will Attend Paris Olympics 2024
April 17, 2024 09:03 PM EDT
Shaq Makes Big Claim That Can End LeBron James’ Future With Lakers After Nuggets Series
April 17, 2024 06:48 PM EDT
Kevin Harvick Reveals His Deliberately Reckless Move to See Out $228 Billion Sponsor
April 18, 2024 09:25 PM EDT
Nike Track and Field ‘Outfit’ Controversy: Plot Thickens As Dwayne Johnson’s Ex-Wife Asks Concerning Question to Athletes
April 17, 2024 03:16 PM EDT
Get instantly notified of the hottest Olympics stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.
Follow Us
Or, you can simply say that flipping would come easier to shorter people, than taller. So, just like being tall is an advantage for basketball players, being short is a boon for elite gymnasts!
As per a study on the performance of female gymnasts with respect to their growth, it was found that smaller gymnasts have greater potential for performing skills over taller gymnasts. So, shorter and lighter gymnasts are able to perform better.
Tokyo Olympics 2021: What are the 6 Types of Gymnastics?
Gymnastics stunts your growth
It is found that practicing gymnastics can stunt the development of the bones in the body. Moreover, training for the Olympics can leave an intense impact on your body.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
In women, it can delay the onset of menstruation or cause amenorrhea. This is because they get trained for long hours and years, causing stress on the development of the body.
In men, however, gymnastics isn’t known to stunt growth because their intense training starts post-pubescent, while that of women begins at a pre pubescent stage.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
However, in the research conducted in the study titled ‘Role of Intensive Training in the Growth and Maturation of Artistic Gymnasts’, it was found that gymnastics does not appear to have any effect on their growth – whether it be the upper body or the lower.
There’s no straightforward answer to whether Gymnastics stunts growth or not, but it is to note that shorter height can be a privilege. Moreover, the effects of intensive training are temporary and reversible, especially once it is discontinued.