Older athletes (older like in the mid-late 20s or even 30s) will be stronger, faster, more disciplined, more experienced, than their 14-16 year equivalents. Is it just flexibility? There are circus contortionists and yoga enthusiasts that are incredibly flexible into their 30s or later.
I can’t think of any trait unique to gymnastics that other sports don’t also require to explain why gymnasts are so dang young, particularly the women’s. Men’s gymnastics seems to have a much older average age.
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Gymnasts, particularly woman gymnasts, are more judged for the elegance and technical complexity of their routines over raw strength and power. Such routines, while insanely hard on the body, are also insanely risky. One bad fall, and you’ve got a career ending injury. In other words, most gymnasts could probably be completive into their mid to late twenties. But so many get injured badly enough or get so many cumulative injuries that they’re forced to retire early.
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