Most truly competitive gymnasts start at age three to five or so and keep training until they peek between 12 and 17 years of age. Few young women make it past 21 in competitive gymnastics. Men can start a little later in life and still excel well into their young twenties. Most men's events take a good measure of strength and they mature later than girls do. But consistent training with a good coach and constantly challenging themselves to learn new tricks keeps an angile gymnast growing and maturing in the sport. It can take well over a year to master a floor, bars or ring routine for competition. It takes lots and lots of practice and lots of pads.