Yeah I meant to mention that the average age for males is somewhere in the mid 20s...with some in their late 20's...but nobody considers that "old"....
Thats part of the reason they raised to age to 16, since so many teams were competing those itty bitty girls (and lying about their ages to begin with anyway..not that I want to beat that horse again). In 2008 the US gymnasts looked like amazons compared to China...This isnt the best picture, but I'm sure you remember the size difference..
I think its great that female gymnasts are competing into their 20's and that some of them are going to college first then pursuing world championship goals..