The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG), has recently announced that it will try to increase the age limit to age 16 for all international events. Currently, a gymnast must turn 16 by the end of the calendar year to compete in major competitions such as Worlds and the Olympics. In smaller meets there are often younger age limits. It sounds like this new rule would regulate all competitions, and, as reported by International Gymnast, eliminate junior international competitions such as the Junior Pan American Games.

The current age limit was raised from age 15 after the 1996 Olympics. Even this was controversial: Had the age limit been 16 before that, we wouldn’t have had Nadia Comaneci’s historic Olympic performance in 1976, and Dominique Moceanu would not have been able to be a part of the team that won gold in Atlanta in 1996. The new age limit prevented Nastia Liukin, already a 2-time junior national champion at the time, from being eligible to try for the 2004 Olympics.

I don’t think it’s fair to deny a gymnast who is good enough to compete at the highest level, simply because she is young. Plus, since it's been shown that countries such as Romania and North Korea lie about their athletes' ages, it puts those who follow the rules at a distinct disadvantage.

I say, eliminate the age limit altogether, or at least bring it back to the pre-1997 limit of 15. The responsibility should be on the coaches to pace the athlete as necessary. Many gymnasts peak before puberty. We owe it to these athletes to allow them to compete when they are at their best.

What do you think? Leave a comment and let me know!