"This is especially true for athletes who are not yet in the anti-doping system and may be more vulnerable to both coercion and risk of harms from use." Calls for change grew louder after Valieva's ordeal "In terms of doping, this may offer some protection but really there needs to be greater independent oversight of how youth athletes are treated" by coaches and others as they develop, Henning said. Henning notes that in sports like figure skating or gymnastics, where athletes whose bodies aren't yet fully developed can have an edge, competitors may be treated more like small adults rather than vulnerable people. The age change is "a good first step for a few reasons," she added. "The physical, emotional, and social pressures of elite sport can be too much for adults to cope with and even more difficult for children," sports doping expert April Henning, of the University of Stirling in Scotland, told NPR. An expert calls the change 'a good first step' has previously reaped rewards from the ISU's age policies, referring to Tara Lipinski winning a gold medal at age 15 at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano. Serbian delegate Slobodan Delic echoed Goldstein's sentiments. But he said moving to 17 ahead of the 2026 Winter Games in Italy would affect skaters' development and retention, particularly in disciplines such as pairs skating. Goldstein said it was "absolutely" the right call to raise the age to 16. Representing the U.S., former skater Troy Goldstein said he supports the new age proposal in general - but he joined a few other delegates in saying the ISU should wait until after the next Winter Olympics to raise the minimum age to 17. "I pose the question: is a medal worth risking the health of a child or a young athlete?" Radford said.ĭelegates approved the proposal by a 100-16 margin, with a handful of abstentions - a result that immediately drew whoops of celebration and applause. But, he added, "I hope that the long-term implications are the ones that are considered with more weight and importance. Radford acknowledged the difficulties some countries might face in adapting to the age change. Their experience in this short period of their lives sets the stage for the rest of their lives, physically, mentally and emotionally," he said. "The life of an athlete is short and intense. It also noted mental health concerns about coping with the pressures of the global spotlight.ĭuring debate on the issue, the ISU's Athletes Commission presented the results of a survey of more than 960 athletes and coaches, saying 86% supported raising the age limit to 17 for senior competitions.Įric Radford, a three-time Olympic medalist from Canada, spoke on the athletes' behalf. The ISU's leadership council said the change will protect young athletes from injury from the physical rigors of elite sport. Athlete asks: Is a medal worth risking the health of a child? She faced intense scrutiny and pressure, raising questions about her independence from her coaches and putting a new focus on the ISU's rules.
But she became embroiled in a massive doping controversy. In Beijing, Valieva was seen as a top contender for a medal. The 2022 Winter Olympics Minimum ages for figure skaters? Some at the Beijing Olympics say it's a good idea ISU delegates approved the proposed changes during their biennial meeting that's now underway at a resort in Phuket, Thailand. Under the new ISU requirements, skaters will have to reach the minimum age by July 1 before the upcoming event - the same cutoff date that's currently used. The new age minimum will apply to several disciplines, from speed skating and figure skating to ice dance and synchronized skating, after the ISU Congress approved the changes on Tuesday at its biennial meeting. The age requirement will remain unchanged for the upcoming season, but it will rise to 16 in the following year and to 17 for the 2024-25 season, ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics. The move comes months after Russia's Kamila Valieva was caught in a storm of controversy at the Beijing Winter Olympics when she was just 15 years old. The International Skating Union is raising the minimum age for athletes in its most high-profile competitions from 15 to 17. Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva attends a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with Russia's medal-winning athletes of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games and members of the country's Paralympic team at the Kremlin in Moscow, on April 26 - Valieva's birthday.
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