National Geographic

(Martin Jones) #1

Lu Mingjing, nine,practices her divingtechnique at an ath-letics center in China’sJiangsu Province, whereshe lives, studies, andtrains. Girls as youngas four are selected totrain at schools like this.Does training so youngboost performancelater? Researcherssay early training canlead to success butmay increase the riskof injury, stagnation,or burnout.DAVID BURNETT

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