Why CAN'T they go to the worlds?

Okay, I'm going to use a slightly extreme example, but work with me here.

So a person wants to start at 13 and go to Nationals and Worlds. Meanwhile, at 13, Evgeni Plushenko had all his triples.

So a person wants to start at 14 and go to Nationals and Worlds. Meanwhile, at 14, Plushenko had landed a quad toe for the first time.

So a person wants to start at 15 and go to Nationals and Worlds. Meanwhile, at 15, Plushenko had won his first World medal (a bronze).

So a person wants to start at 16 and go to Nationals and Worlds. Meanwhile, at 16, Plushenko had won his second World medal (a silver).

So a person wants to start at 17 and go to Nationals and Worlds. Meanwhile, at 17, Plushenko landed the first quad toe-triple toe-double loop in history and was favourite for the World Championship that year.

Yes, there are the occasional freaks like Johnny Weir, who start at 12 and are amazing. But these people are what they are - freaks. They're born with it. It's something amazingly special, something you can't teach.

Let's look at the Plushenko example again. Do you know how long he has been skating? Twenty-four years. Twenty-four years, and he is STILL learning, still acquiring new elements. There are skaters who have been skating for twenty years and are still not good enough to make the Olympics.

The point is, there are thousands of skaters out there who want to go to the Olympics. Thousands. Thousands in America alone. And at the end of the day, America can only send a MAXIMUM of THREE skaters/pairs in each team. That's three out of the many thousands. And a skater who's started at five has an immediate advantage, in that they have many more years' experience behind them by the time they get to that level.

Take a look around at the average age of the Olympians, too. Weir and Lysacek were considered old in Vancouver at 25; Plushenko was considered ancient at 27. The ladies were even younger. Yuna Kim is only 20 years old, and there weren't all that many ladies older than her by more than two years.

It's not just the flexibility thing. Children are naturally much more relaxed on the ice. Young children at about 5 don't always have the concept that "ice is slippery, ice is hard, slippery means you could fall, hard means you'll get hurt". Teenagers and adults have that concept, and know it very well, leading them to stiffen up. And as the other poster said, it's like languages - so much easier to learn when you're young.

Teenagers and adults are also much heavier naturally, and their center of gravity is different. And while these changes will happen to the young skaters too, the fact is, if they had their double jumps before their body started changing, then it would be much easier to get them back after.

There are realities that some people need to face, and the reality is, unless you are a freak like Johnny Weir, if you start later than twelve you're not going to the Olympics. End of story.

Because the technique needed to get triple jumps, Level 4 spins and top-level footwork takes DECADES to gain. Figure skating is one of the hardest sports in the world, and it takes a very, very long time to become a competitive Senior level skater.

People who start at 12-16 are at an disadvantage because their peak athletic performance is ending soon. Yes, there are famous skaters in their 20's who can still do triples, but that's because they've already had triples for years and years. Skaters trying to get a double or a triple for the first time in their teens or adulthood are at a big disadvantage because of height, weight, muscle memory and peaked athletic performance. You know how little kids learn new languages faster and better? The same principle applies to skaters.

So because figure skating takes so long to get good at, a 16 year old, 8 years later, has since passed their peak athletic performance and peak learning capacity. Flexibility has nothing to do with it- anybody of any age can become flexible, and anyway, flexibility's not a make it or break it thing in skating- just look at Rachael Flatt.

There are the freaks of nature out there, like Johnny Weir. Those people were just born with something other people don't have. But they are far and few in between.

Flexibility doesn't matter, I have (had, I hate spirals I don't do them, too painful for my back) terrible spirals, but great jumps and spins. Skating has more to do with endurance and pain tolerance when you get older (and stamina/energy).

I started figure skating when I was 3. But I never made it, number 1 reason why? Injury! Many skaters get injured on ice and it sets them back quite a few weeks in practices, sometimes they can never do the same things. I had started working on my triples when I was 12, but 3 months after I turned 12 my coach kicked me off the ice to go see a doctor. why? because I was skating through major knee pain not telling anyone. In the end I had no cartilage in my knees, my knees' tracking was so far off I had to have surgery and I never full recovered. To this day it is fairly painful when I attempt triples. And I'm 21. And lost of skaters tend to stop skating once they had major injuries or multiple injuries, because they can't recover as well as they used to as young children.

Basicaly if you notice in the world circuit, (for freeskate dance is a different story, much easier on the joints) Most women skaters peak around 17 to 19, beyond that the body starts to wear down and injury starts to occur, and because they aren't as young it takes longer and more effort to recover, then they have to start retraining. Most female skaters tend to retire from the amateur circuit around 24. They also aren't doing as well as they used to when younger.

Men get a bit of a longer lifespan but they also tend to peak later, normally around 20, and most men retire by the age 25 to 26. Again, they get older injured, takes longer getting back, etc.

The problem with starting when you're older is often fear, skating is a more difficult mentally when you're older. Because you understand the chance for pain and injury. Also not many skaters actually get to attend worlds or the Olympics!

Statically your chances are less than 1% just because of the number of other skaters. You can only ever send a max of 3, if your country is good.

I also forgot to mention there are age restrictions that often prevent people from getting the practice and experience in the competitive tracks. Often skaters that start at 13 or 15, have to go from the lowest level or a fairly low level and test right into senior.

Basically you're fighting against age, that puts you at higher risk for injury, lack of time, really the stats are against everyone.

Because it is difficult enough to land triples and get to Senior level at an "old" age, and on top of that there is just too much competition - even if someone started skating at 13 and made it to Senior level, if they lived in the US they'd be competing at Regionals/Sectionals against top skaters like Rachael Flatt, Mirai Nagasu, Ashley Wagner, etc. all of which started skating when they were young children. Only the best make it to nationals. Plus, you don't just need the jumps - it takes decades to get the skating skills, power, technique, speed, etc that senior level requires.

As well as that, when you're young it's easier to learn new skills - especially before you've gone through puberty. And when you're older it is more difficult to recover from injuries.

I started skating when I was 11 & a half..now im 13. I dnt plan on going to far i love skating.Skating is just a FUN way to spend my time. Age is just a number, so there's no age limit or anything that say u have to be a certain age to start. Johnny Weir started at age 12 and look wheres at now...! In the Olympics! Theres actually nothing that says u cant start figure skating or go to nationals because your older, its just a less possibility.

very good point!! i am 17 and i just started skating year ago and now i am at nontest and i am very proud of where i am. for the first person who answered this....yes little kids do have an advantage but not every little kid is good at skating. and when you are young like 7 or 8 you still havnt hit puberty so things in there life will change like height and weight and may more things. but there are older kids like me out there who can still make it to nationals why should me not have the mindset of going to nationals just becuase i am 17? there are athletic kids who can make it. yes it will be hard but if they have the time,patience and love for the sport anything is possible!!