The goal of a gymnast is to obtain:

• A. Minimum strength from minimum size
• B. Maximum strength from minimum size
• C. Minimum strength from maximum size
• D. Maximum strength from maximum size

Answer: (B)

In gymnastics, how hard you can work relative to your own body weight matters most. The goal is to generate as much force as possible without increasing body mass, so your strength-to-weight ratio stays high. When you have maximum strength from a small size, you can lift, hold, and control your body more efficiently on apparatuses and during dynamic skills. Extra muscle mass adds weight, which raises the load you must move and can make moves more difficult even if your absolute strength goes up. So, developing the greatest strength you can while keeping size compact yields the best performance—maximum strength from minimum size.