Have you ever wondered why gymnasts are so short? Star Simone Biles, winner of six Olympic gold medals in artistic gymnastics, is only 1.42 meters tall, and the list goes on, with several world-famous athletes in the sport being short. This fact is not a coincidence, as it is a characteristic that benefits athletes when performing.
Mechanical advantage
Bones, tendons, ligaments and muscles act as “levers” for the body to perform movements. The higher it is, the more difficult it becomes to perform maneuvers. According to NBC NewsThis is because their more compact bodies and limbs provide a mechanical advantage that translates into greater strength and greater ease in performing jumps and pirouettes without the risk of injury.
“Being short helps develop rotational skills (like somersaults). It’s the same reason gymnasts tend to have short arms and legs,” explained exercise physiologist Dr. Kevin Thomson. BBC.
Genetics
In accordance with BustleThere are studies that show that very young people aspire to a career in gymnastics. Research from the 1980s showed that most gymnasts were shorter than their peers by the age of four.
Intensive training
Although gymnastics attracts short women and women with delayed bone age (delayed skeletal maturation relative to their actual age), another reason for the short stature of female athletes is the intense training they undergo from childhood.
A recent study published in the Journal of Pediatrics concluded that gym training may have some effect on height. The study included 83 active gymnasts, 42 retired gymnasts, and 154 unhealthy gymnasts, and found that the active gymnasts had some leg length deficit. However, the damage was not permanent, as many athletes regained their height after repairs.
This thesis is devalued by some scientists, who point out that a causal relationship between gymnastics training and short stature in women has not been proven. They emphasize that short stature may be related to inadequate nutrition during the training years, and not to the physical demands of gymnastics training itself.
Author: morning Post
Source: CM Jornal
I am Michael Melvin, an experienced news writer with a passion for uncovering stories and bringing them to the public. I have been working in the news industry for over five years now, and my work has been published on multiple websites. As an author at 24 News Reporters, I cover world section of current events stories that are both informative and captivating to read.