Growth patterns of elite French-Canadian female gymnasts

In the present investigation, an elite group of competitive female French-Canadian gymnasts (N = 7) were evaluated using 35 standardized morphological measures at an interval of 475 days. At the two evaluatione, the average age of the gymnasts was 13.9 and 15.3 years and at the termination 4 of the 7 girls had not yet reached menarche. Standard body lengths, widths, skinfolds and proportions were measured. Almost everybody dependent variable increased significantly while the body proportions, for the most part, stayed the same. Skinfold measures of body fat tended to remain the same or to decrease over this period. In comparison to other reference groups of female gymnasts tested over the last 10 years, these elite competiters were younger, smaller, and lighter reflecting the present day trends. Implications of this decreased body size were discussed in terms of the potential mechanical advantages that accompany these characteristics.