# Youngest age wins

> Break ties by comparing gymnasts' dates of birth. The younger gymnast ranks higher.

> **Visual guide:** [View the decision tree in Figma](https://www.figma.com/board/tTm6Lsjv1KkDLGr9omFZsj/)

## Prerequisites

* [Set up your levels](/levels/index.md) before configuring tiebreakers.

## Configuration

In your level settings under tiebreaker configuration, choose "Youngest Age Wins" for any individual ranking context. This is only available for individual scoring, not team scoring.

## How it works

1. Two gymnasts have the same **final score**.
2. Compare their **dates of birth**. The gymnast with the **later** birth date (younger) ranks first.
3. If both gymnasts have the same birth date, they share the same rank.

No score components (E, D, all-around) are compared. The tie is broken purely by age.

## Example

Two gymnasts tie on Floor Exercise with 13.400:

| Gymnast | Floor Score | Date of Birth     | Age | Result  |
| ------- | ----------- | ----------------- | --- | ------- |
| Alice   | 13.400      | September 3, 2013 | 12  | **1st** |
| Bob     | 13.400      | March 15, 2012    | 13  | 2nd     |

Alice wins because she was born later (September 2013 vs March 2012) and is therefore younger.

## When to use

* **Age-class competitions** where younger gymnasts should have priority, rewarding early development.
* Meets where the organizer wants to encourage younger competitors.
* When governing body rules specify youngest-wins tiebreaking.

## Important details

* This tiebreaker requires gymnasts to have a **date of birth** on file. If a gymnast has no birth date, the tiebreaker cannot separate them.
* This is an **individual-only** tiebreaker. It is not available for team scoring.
* Consider whether your competition rules call for youngest or [oldest](/tiebreakers/oldest-age-wins.md) to win.

## Related

* [Oldest Age Wins](/tiebreakers/oldest-age-wins.md) - The reverse
* [How do tiebreakers work?](/tiebreakers/index.md)
* [How to configure individual score settings](/levels/individual-score-settings.md)


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.gymart.org/tiebreakers/youngest-age-wins.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.