I honestly think it is never too late. Plenty of people start gymnastics in their late teens or twenties and move onto have a very high skill level and compete successfully. I know of people who have started learning gymnastics as late as their 50's and still managing to learn skills like back handsprings. In trampolining here in Australia they have an over 30's section and there are people[ Read More... ]

Alanna Laecca, 16 years old gymnast placed first on the balance beam at the USA gymnastics level 9 Eastern National Championships in Kissimmee, Floriday in May. [quote]It also doesn't hurt having a dedicated athlete like Laecca to help showcase the gym. Laecca has been training at Revolution for three years and didn't get involved with gymnastics until she was 11 years old. "She's a unique[ Read More... ]

sure! It's true the coach does matter, and so does the gymnast. If she had a coach that kept telling her she can't do it or she's too old, etc. it would be harder. And also it matters if the coach is experienced, knows how to coach / teach and has good spotting technique, etc.

but it depends on the coach too! because i have a cousin shes 11 years old,and she quickly learned splits,fronthandspring,backhandsprings,both splits(i taught her). She can do also a fronhandspring with one hand,whick i havent seen a gymnast do that on the beam or floor... on the tramp she can do back and front tucks and stufff,and my conclusion is that maybe youre right,its not that late to[ Read More... ]

Daiane dos Santos started gymnastics at 11 years old and she's champion, won floor titles over Cataline Ponor,Cheng Fei, has 2 skills named after her - the piked and the laid-out double arabian somersaults (that 2nd one is called Dos Santos II). more at: http://www.gymchat.com/messageboards/viewtopic.php?p=2151#2151 so, it can happen! There are other examples too.

If someone wants to be a proffessional or an elite gymnast,it has to start as early as possible,maybe 11 or 12 its too late to be proffesional.I had never taken gym lessons,but i learned quickly to make both splits(it was about 3 years ago),and i recently learned to do a fronthandspring,and im 17 years old! (yeah im old!).

well if you didnt love gymnastics you wouldnt be on gym chat now would you? lol! hi, my name is jackie and i probably love gymnastics as much as you do. i've been training since i was 4 yrs old and now i'm on my high school team. lots o fun! :D

Aloha, My name is Carolyn, I am 28 from Northern California. I've been a gymnast for 25 years and counting. I started in artistic gymnastics and recently in the last year made the switch to rhythmic gymnastics due to too many injuries requiring surgury. I've only competed for 6 years. 4 years as a child and 2 years as an adult. I will be returning to competitive rhythmic gymnastics in 2007-2008[ Read More... ]

mayeb you're lightheaded? usually people get dizzy on forward rolls and flipping or doing giants really fast and in a row. ur not landing on your head r u? maybe u get too nervous about it and aren't relaxed and ur so tense you get a headache? how does ur bridge kickover look? try breathing more during the skill, and be more relaxed. also, make sure you aren't hungry and ate a bit before[ Read More... ]

i just learned hOw tO dO de back bridge kickover but i keep getting headaches whenever i do it? WHATS WRONG? :[

hey beamqueenxo! welcome! i agree too! :D how long it takes you to get your splits if you're 12 and just started gym depends on how flexible you are already and how tight your muscles/tendons are - you could get your splits in a few months with practice, or it could take a bit longer. some girls on our team aren't that flexibile in their shoulders and their splits, so they kind of make up[ Read More... ]

i agree! jw what gym do you go to? i know a girl named haley- another question.. what if you are like 12, and you dont know how to do the splits and you just started gym. how long would it take to learn how to do the splits?

i agree! jw what gym do you go to? i know a girl named haley- another question.. what if you are like 12, and you dont know how to do the splits and you just started gym. how long would it take to learn how to do the splits?

do you mean to go to the Olympics? the age of the women gymnasts competing is going to the 20's and even 30's (i.e. Svetlana Khorkina, Mohini Bhardwaj, Annia Hatch, Oksana Chusovitina), and the men gymnasts have been competing at 20's and 30's for some long time...so, even if you start at 16, and get to elite in 7-10 yrs. you'll be like 26 - and can go to the Olympics too if you want! gymnastics[ Read More... ]

what do you guys think, BE HONEST! :? don't say "it's never too late!" :roll: because we all know you can't start gym. when your 89 years old etc.. haha. :lol: so what age do you think is too late? 11? 12? 13? 14? etc. :?