1. Sands, WA, et al. “Historical Changes in Height, Mass and Age of USA Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team: An Update.” Science of Gymnastics Journal, 6 Nov. 2018.

Background: The Science of Gymnastics Journal discusses the correlations of body size and the advantages it brings to the sport. Also that the larger you are the more muscle you need to move in the way gymnasts do. Since the sport of gymnastics relies on moving your own body weight, being smaller makes it a much simpler task.A study titled Updated Team Ranks Trends of the U.S Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Teams From 1956-2016 was completed on the Women’s Olympic Teams and collected their age, height (cm), mass (kg), BMI, and rank to see if the gymnasts were getting smaller as the years progressed. A total of sixteen teams were selected for the study with one-hundred and twenty three athletes. The results from the study showed that as the gymnasts became smaller their final ranking in the Olympic Games improved. n the Science of Gymnastics Journal Malina states “that records of height in early childhood have shown that young females destined for gymnastics are small and light long before they are selected for training (Malina, 1996, 1999).” Certain body types are needed for certain sports in order to be professional and succeed such as the gymnasts we see in the olympics. I have begun to see sports from a different point of view that people quit and join different sports in order they find one they can succeed at, and they do one where their body type will be at an advantage for them. 

How I Used It: This article provided me with a starting point for my research. When trying to develop my original hypothesis. I started with the question “why are gymnasts so short?” This article provided me with gymnasts and body sizes. And potentially how different body types could benefit certain gymnasts on certain events. Though I did not use this article within my writing I believe this was an article that made me think about gymnastics in a counterintuitive way in developing my new hypothesis. 

2. Caine, D. , Lewis, R. , O’Connor, P. , Howe, W. & Bass, S. (2001). Does Gymnastics Training Inhibit Growth of Females?. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 11 (4), 260-270.

Background: Gymnasts all start at many different ages, but most start at a young age. And they go through intense body training to improve their skill set to evolve into professional athletes. All gymnasts have a favored physique of being short and slender. Training for gymnasts is not seasonal, they intense training is all year round with little to no breaks. According to the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine “During the periadolescent years, top-level female gymnasts may train 24-36 hours per week, 4-6 hours per day, and up to 12 months per year.” Many factors that go along with the intense trading could factor to their petite size due to late maturation. Male nutrition for the amount of activity the young gymnasts are doing could play a role in decreasing their body size. Also in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine suggests that the amount of strain on the gymnast’ s body may result in premature femoral and tibial epiphyseal fusion, which will cause decreased leg growth. In a study titled “Does Gymnastics Training Inhibit Growth of Females?” A search through MedLine from 1966 to present was conducted searching for “gymnastics” with “growth’’, “maturation”, “body height”, “body weight”, and “growth plate”. Results were found in different reports. Auxological studies were performed which are the studies of growth. Within the 3 case reports, 18 cross-sectionals, and 14 cohort studies results investigated potential relations between the growth of gymnasts and their training. They concluded that during their intense years of training they experienced stunted growth which was then followed by a “catch-up” growth during periods of reduced trading or retirement from gymnastics. One study suggested a strong link between a poor diet with growth disturbance. There is the possibility that their growth will return in a later period, but those who evolve into professional athletes never experience a decrease in training so they can never have a catch up period and will always remain on the short side. 

How I Used It: This source provided me with different types of training in gymnastics and how it shaped gymnasts bodies to perform in ways that would benefit them. And how gymnasts are also able to control so well how their body looks and functions. This article also provided me with a form of counterintuitive thinking in developing a new hypothesis that gymnasts should be competed all gender, and separated by height and weight classes. Finding out about gymnasts bodies led me to think about gymnasts who do not fit in the stereotypical body type of a gymnast. This then led me to think about ways they can have a fair competition. 

3. “Examination of Gender Equity and Female Participation in Sport.” The Sport Journal, 29 Feb. 2016. 

Background: This journal provides information regarding women’s evolution of sports. It discusses the challenges they face and the changes that have been made and are being made. The journal discusses equity in coed sports as well. The journal gives reasons as to why women may face so many struggles pertaining to gender equity in sports, and gives recommendations for future research about women’s equity and participation within sports. 

How I Used It: I used this source as a background for my readers. It provided me with the evolution of the Olympics women in the Olympic Games. It also provided me with challenges women currently are facing in the olympics. It provided me with ways to show what is unfair and how it can be changed to make the games more fair for athletes. In my Definition Argument I was able to utilize this source as a recommendation for future games. 

4. S;, Loland. “Classification in Sport: A Question of Fairness.” European Journal of Sport Science, U.S. National Library of Medicine. 

Background: This journal of sport science suggests what is considered fair and what is not considered fair within sports. It discusses the development of the ancient Olympic Games from how they started and to where they are now. Originally only Greek men were allowed to play within the games, now women, men, children, able-bodied, and disabled persons are allowed to compete. With all these different groups competing in the games this journal discusses what is fair for all. This journal also suggests that sex classes can be replaces by body size classes. 

How I Used It: This source was used as an Olympic Games background. It provided me with information about the ancient games starting as only Greek men and evolving to the many different sports and genders that are allowed in the games today. It helped me describe how there are many of the same sport but separated by gender and how they can be made into coed sports. It helped me with explaining gymnastics as a coed sport. 

5. LaTour, Amée. “Why Are Men’s & Women’s Gymnastics Events Different? Look to the Skills They Emphasize.” Bustle, Bustle, 10 Aug. 2016. 

Background: This article by Bustle is about the differences between men’s gymnastics and women’s gymnastics. The article discusses why men compete in different events due to their upper body strength being greater than women. Women’s events consist of vault, floor exercise, balance beam, and uneven bars. While men’s events consist of pommel horse, vault, floor exercise, parallel bar, high bar, and still rings. All the events do consider a lot of strength, coordination, balance, and stamina. In the article it explains that women carry most of their strength in their lower bodies. But it is possible that women can match the same upper body strength as a man with the correct training. 

How I Used It: This source provided me with information about the events in men and women’s gymnastics. I used this source as a comparison between the events and how the skills on these events are similar for both men and women. I also used this source to explain why there are different events in the first place, but how they are not needed now. How men and women in gymnasts are more than capable of competing the same events and doing the same skills, if they are separated by height and weight classes. 

6. Spitznagel, Eric. “Trans Women Athletes Have Unfair Advantage over Those Born Female: Testosterone.” New York Post, New York Post, 22 July 2021.

Background: This article by New York Post discusses the story of 43 year old transgender weight lifter Laurel Hubbard. Her story discusses how her success competing as a woman with other women was greater than her successes when she was competing as a man with other men. In the article they mention how people are not pleased with these rules and don’t approve of her successes. In the article it discusses men that transition to women still have the biological make up and chemicals as a man, making them stronger and more powerful. That they have a “testosterone advantage”. Also discussing how some trans women will lose no muscle mass during the transition keeping them just as strong. 

How I Used It: This source provided me with assistance in my Rebuttal Argument. This source was able to discuss the issues about competition including trans gender athletes, and how it becomes unfair to those who are biological male or female. I also used this source to explain this is mainly due to biological makeup and chemicals within the body. I then refuted this by explaining the changes of coed gymnastics could solve this problem because gender would not be a question since gymnasts would be separated by height and weight. 

7.  “Why the 2016 Rio Olympic Gymnasts’ Bodies Are So Much More Muscular” Evolution of a sport. Men’s Journal. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2022. 

Background: This article from Men’s Journal discusses the evolution of strength training in Olympic gymnasts. Also why when we turn on the Olympics in 2016 the gymnasts looked a lot more muscular and toned. Male gymnasts are also beginning to include more strength elements within their routines to increase their potential score, especially on the rings. The skills in the 1984 olympic gymnast games compared to now are also a lot different, and a lot more complex. With the more complex skills requires more stamina and strength to execute them with precision. In the article they also discuss how coaches are bringing to look out to strength coaches for assistance in training their athletes to exercises that are not gymnastics body weight. 

How I Used It: This source provided me with differences in skills and strength used in olympic gymnastics. It compared the 1984 games to the 2016 games. It provided me with ways to explain how training can benefit all gymnasts in being stronger and more competitive athletes. That with the correct strength training whether male or female can become strong and compete doing the same set of skills. 

8. McArdle, Megan. “Opinion | the Key Question Raised by Lia Thomas’s Swimming Success: What Is the Purpose of Women’s Sports?” The Washington Post, WP Company, 23 Mar. 2022.

Background: This article by The Washington Post discusses Lia Thomas’s journey as a transgender Olympic swimmer. And discusses her unfair advantage as competing in a women category and is ranked #1 as a female but #462 as a male. They discuss the biological advantages she has as a swimmer that she developed when she went through male puberty such as height, heart and lung capacity, and strength. This puts her at an advantage, while if categories were not by gender she would be put at a level playing field with her height and weight. 

How I Used It: This source provided me with issues within including transgenders in competition, and due to their original biological make up makes them stronger competitors and an advantage. I used this within my Rebuttal Arugment to suggest opening Olympic Games to coed to avoid hate for transgender and priovide them with inclusion and fair competition for all athletes. 

9. 2020 – 2021 Women’s Program Rules and Policies. 

Background: This is the Women’s gymnastic programs rules and policies. This is for USA gymnastics and is sanctioned by the National Women’s Program Committee. Within this program there are rules for gymnastic meets, scoring, events, judging, and awards. There are also policies for gymnasts regarding age, mobility, and entry requirements. 

How I Used It: I used this source as a reference for the current standings of women’s gymnastics. I used it as a guide for rules about events, regarding their height requirements and size requirements of the equipment. When using it as support for my hypothesis I wanted to be able to share the current requirements for gymnastics equipment and then proceed to explain how it can be altered to benefit all gymnasts of different body types. I also used it as a guide regarding gender rules, and gymnast policies they must follow when competing. As a gymnast I did have a lot of this knowledge prior to using this source, but I needed more specific information which this handbook was able to provide for me. 

10. NBCUniversal News Group. (2021, November 17). International Olympic Committee issues new guidelines on transgender athletes. NBCNews.com. Retrieved April 26, 2022.

Background: This article from NBC News was about the recent changes in the International Olympic Committee regarding transgender athletes. The athletes will no longer need to undergo “medically unnecessary” hormone treatments to compete. They stated that athletes do not have an inherent advantage, and will not move them away from eligibility criteria. Also the testing they would undergo invades privacy and is harmful and a suit to the athletes. 

How I Used It: I used this source by providing recent changes within the Olympics, that they are beginning to cancel gender terms and biological make up as a negative within sports. I used this to explain that gender should not be a question and should be eliminated all together and everyone should compete together regardless of the chemicals they have in their body and their biological make up. No matter what size or shape or strength should be eligible to compete in a height and weight classes that will bring them fair competition.