Hi. If you look at Shawn Johnson's (member of the 2008 Olympic Women's Gymnastic Team and Gold Medalist) website, it states she only practices 20 - 25 hours a week, attends public high school and is on the honor roll. So, 20 hours a week is reasonable, they do need a chance to be a kid. My son practices 8-10 hours a week. Of course there is more pressure on a female gymnast during adolescence then a male, as males reach their peek in their late teens to early 20's.