1. characteristic of or befitting a father; fatherly. 2. of or pertaining to a father: paternal rights. 3. related on the father's side: one's paternal grandfather. 4. derived or inherited from a father. [1400â50; late Middle English < Late Latin paternÄlis= Latin patern(us) paternal (pater father + -nus adj. suffix) + -Älis -al1] paâ¢terâ²nalâ¢ly, adv.
Being an elite gymnast requires up to 30 hours of training per week, plus coaching, exercising, stretching, and eating a healthy diet. You need to be flexible and strong to be a Level 3, 4, or 5 student. If you have never done gymnastics before, you better start now. If you don't know how to do a cartwheel, start in Beginners.
Gymnasts must be 16 years old or turning 16 in that calendar year in order to compete in the Olympics or other international meets. There is no maximum age. This age limit has been raised a few times and is controversial because many of the best gymnasts in the world are below 16 and thus unable to compete in the Olympics.