Final answer:
Young athletes usually experience their fastest growth in height during early adolescence, a period that aligns with the beginning of puberty and includes a rapid growth spurt. Option b.
Step-by-step explanation:
When we consider the growth patterns in young athletes, it's crucial to understand that the adolescent growth spurt typically starts at different times for boys and girls.
For girls, it usually begins earlier than for boys, often between the ages of nine and ten. For boys, it typically starts a bit later, between the ages of 11 and 12. During this period, there's a rapid increase in height and weight alongside changes in body composition and shape.
Early adolescence is generally recognized as the time when the fastest growth in height occurs for most individuals.
This stage aligns with the period of life when many adolescents are going through significant physical changes, including the adolescent growth spurt during puberty, which is known to start sometimes during pre-adolescence but continues well into adolescence.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question of when young athletes typically experience their fastest growth in height is b. early adolescence. Option b.