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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Aside from the joints thing, I’d say that younger girls are just skinnier and don’t have fully mature bodies yet. Lots of their routines rely on having essentially prepubescent bodies which gives them a better strength to weight ratio. This has become such a stereotype as well that girls are usually trained to peak at young ages and sustainability into older age isn’t prioritized.
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