Darwinian selection for the fittest, oldest or youngest: relative age effects in European gymnastics

This study investigated relative age effects (RAEs) among artistic gymnasts participating in the last three European Championships.

A total of 876 gymnasts (female; n = 396, male; n = 480) were included in this study. The chi-square (χ2) goodness-of-fit test was used to investigate birthdate distribution. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated for quartile comparisons. Poisson regression with canonical link was conducted to analyse count data. All the analysis was conducted separately for male and female gymnasts, as well as for each apparatus.

Considering the female gymnasts, Poisson regression was significant for all the sample (R² = 0.07; p < 0.05) and apparatus (R² range = 0.05–0.08; p < 0.05). The female gymnasts born at the beginning of the year were 0.64 more likely not to participate in the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships than those born at the end of the year. On the other hand, no such effect was determined for male gymnasts both in the total sample (R² = 0.01; p > 0.05) and any of the apparatus (R² range = 0.00–0.01; all p > 0.05). The study revealed a skewed birth date distribution in favour of relatively younger female gymnasts, while male gymnasts did not show this effect. Furthermore, in female gymnasts, this result was consistent across all apparatus, with gymnasts overrepresented in the last quarter.

Such findings have been discussed with several moderators, hypotheses and models in this study. As a result, considering the consistent findings, particularly in female gymnastics, coaches and policymakers should reconsider RAEs to avoid talent loss and sports drop-out.