In ancient Greece, male athletes did not wear any clothes when they exercised. Female gymnasts use music in their routines, but male gymnasts don't. Some top gymnasts began training when they were 2 or 3 years old. Female gymnasts are at their best between the ages of 14 and 18.
Male gymnasts peak in their late teens to early twenties.
After the 1966 Olympics, female gymnasts had to be 16 years old to compete in the Olympics, and world championships. Rhythmic gymnastics became an Olympic event in 1984. Rhyhmic gymnasts may not perform tumbling moves. A flip-flop is also called a back handspring. There are springs under the 40 x 40 foot mat on which gymnasts perform their floor exercise.