How much does gymnastics stunt your growth
Lily Fisher
Published Feb 15, 2026
Table of Contents
Does gymnastics stunt your growth?
A study published in 2004 showed that intense gymnastics training can impact the musculoskeletal growth and maturation that is supposed to occur during puberty, but, research conducted by Malina et al, investigating the ‘Role of Intensive Training in the Growth and Maturation of Artistic Gymnasts’, found that …Do gymnasts get stunted?
Girls’ growth is not stunted by the tough exercise and diet restrictions required to be the best in gymnastics, researchers say. But some scientists say some of the young gymnasts nonetheless never will grow to their full potential height. Two reports in sports medicine journals reviewed studies on the elite athletes.Does doing gymnastics delay puberty?
Growth velocity of the trunk accelerated later in the gymnasts than in control subjects, despite continuing gymnastic training. Thus gymnastics delays puberty, but puberty may eventually emerge, promoting upper body growth, which may impair gymnastic performance, forcing retirement.Why are gymnasts so short?
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.Does gymnastics ruin your body?
Sprains and fractures are common injuries while practicing it. Once gymnasts discontinue their practice, their bodies may find it difficult to adapt to a less-intensive exercise routine. It may cause chronic back pain, serious sprains, and joint problems in adults.What sports stunt your growth?
Most sports don’t seem to stunt growth. It’s only the ones which require extremely high energy output, like swimming, or extremely long practice sessions, like gymnastics, which seem to have this effect.How tall is the average gymnast?
The height of the average American woman is 5 feet 4 inches.But the average height of a female gymnast is 5 feet 1 inch. And 78 percent of “champion-level” gymnasts are within 3 inches above — or below — 5 feet tall, according to Reference. So, yes, female gymnasts are generally shorter than other women.
How tall is Simone Biles 2021?
4 ft 8 in| Simone Biles | |
|---|---|
| Residence | Spring, Texas, U.S. |
| Height | 4 ft 8 in (142 cm) |
| Discipline | Women’s artistic gymnastics |
| Level | Senior international elite |
