Context: Elite gymnasts are subjected to intense training, which may alter pubertal development.

Objective: The impact of gymnastics on pubertal development in Rhythmic (RG) and Artistic gymnasts (AG).

Design: Evaluation of somatometric parameters, pubertal stage and intensity of training, in the competition field.

Setting: European and Word championships of years 1997-2004.

Subjects: 433 elite RG and 427 AG, aged 11-23 yr.

Intervention: None

Main outcome measures: Mean chronological and bone age of each pubertal stage and their relation to the intensity of training.

Results: AG and RG showed a delay in skeletal maturation ( Age-Bone Age 2.13 and 1.28 respectively, P < 0.001). AG were subjected to higher levels of physical training.

Thelarche occurred at 12.9 yr for RG and 13.2 yr for AG (P = 0.003) and pubarche at 12.5 yr and 12.9 respectively (P = 0.002). Puberty was delayed but normally progressed. AG entered each pubertal stage later than RG. The delay was influenced by the amount of energy output. Menarcheal age was 14.6 yr for RG and 14.9 yr for AG.

Menarche was influenced in AG by bone age (b = 0.333, t = 2,521, P = 0.020), pubarche (b = 0.322, t = 2,401, P = 0.026), and body fat (b = -0.458, t = -3,412, P = 0.003) and in RG by bone age (b = 0.378, t = 3,689, P < 0.001), and pubarche (b = 0.525, t = 6,017, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: In RG and AG pubertal development was shifted to a later age, maintaining a normal rate of progression, which followed the bone age. AG which were exposed to a greater and more sustained energy output than RG presented a more pronounced delay in both skeletal maturation and pubertal development.