WHEN SEVEN GYMNASTS BEGAN THEIR CAREERS

Amy Chow: started at age 3

Shannon Miller: at age 5

Miller was the balance beam gold medalist in the 1996 Atlanta Games.

Nadia Comaneci: at age 6

Comaneci was the all-around gold medalist in the 1976 Montreal Games. She won four gold medals in individual events at Montreal and in the 1980 Moscow Games.

Dominique Dawes: at age 6

Kim Zmeskal: at age 6

Mary Lou Retton: at age 7

Retton was the all-around gold medalist in the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

Cathy Rigby: at age 11

Sources: World Features Syndicate; The Complete Book of the Summer Olympics.