Kamila Valieva of Russia reacts after competing in the women’s singles short skating program at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.
Manan Vatsyayana / AFP via Getty Images
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Kamila Valieva of Russia reacts after competing in the women’s singles short skating program at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing.
Manan Vatsyayana / AFP via Getty Images
BEIJING – Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva finished her usual short program this week and immediately burst into tears. After slipping off the ice, Valieva emotionally grabbed a stuffed animal her trainer gave her and waited to be judged. She ended the show in first place.
In the days leading up to his event, the 15-year-old skater faced intense scrutiny after pre-Olympic doping violations came to light. The gold medal candidate is still allowed to compete in the women’s figure skating final on Thursday despite the violation.
Valieva’s continued participation in the Olympics has been met with fierce criticism – but even some of these critics say that in the end the teenager does not take full responsibility here. At such a young age, Valieva is being guided by a group of adults – officials and coaches making decisions for her.
Former Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon recently spoke out against Valieva’s team. Rippon trains American figure skater Mariah Bell.
“Valieva is 15 years old. I highly doubt she intentionally adulterated. She is a minor. Adults have completely failed her.” he told NPR.
The Valieva scandal has upset some in the figure skating community, including today’s figure skaters. and the coachto extend the higher minimum age requirements for Olympic competition.
Proponents of the idea say that older skaters will be more able to exercise for themselves. more mature to deal with stress and will have a better sense of timing something is not right.
“This I totally agree with,” Bell said Tuesday, after competing in the figure skating short-term program.
In general, the International Olympic Committee does not set an age limit for participating in the Olympics – it is up to the governing body of the individual sport.
The International Skating Federation has set 15 years old as the minimum age to compete in figure skating. The prospect of increasing age is higher has been debated at ISU in recent years. Recent reports suggest another proposal will be put before ISU later this year.
Jackie Wong, a figure skating analyst for the website Rocker Skating, said there are several issues to consider before making sweeping changes. He says that in some ways raising the minimum age could be a good thing for the longevity of the sport and its athletes.
On the other hand, he said, if an athlete is at their best 15, Is it fair to punish them?
There is no question that this debate focuses on female skaters. Most male skaters don’t peak in their teens as young women do – in part because their bodies mature more slowly, Wong said.
Young skaters talk about challenges in the sport
Mariah Bell of America skates in the women’s singles short skating program on day 11 of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.
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Mariah Bell of America skates in the women’s singles short skating program on day 11 of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.
Matthew Stockman / Getty Images
The world of Olympic-level figure skating is extremely tough for young women, top USA skaters said.
“It was difficult for me, and I was only 25 years old,” Bell said. I don’t know what it would be like if I were 10 years younger.
She believes that athletes who are only 18 years old or older should perform at this level. Notably, her teammate, American figure skater Alysa Liu, is just 16 years old.
Female athletes also handle body-shaming in a way that male athletes do not. That can have a damaging effect on self-esteem and mental health.
“It’s a really big problem in skating. I dealt with a lot of negativity two years ago,” Liu told reporters. She was only 14 years old then.
The United States has also seen great success with young skaters in the recent Olympics. Liu is one. Another is Tara Lipinski, who won an Olympic gold medal at the age of 15, and Sarah Hughes, who also won a gold medal at the age of 16.
In 2018, skier Chloe Kim, then 17 years old, rose to stardom after the Pyeongchang Olympics. After winning her first gold medal, she said she struggled with pressure and suffered from depression. Kim, now 22, says getting older has helped her better navigate attention and criticism.
Building a sport with a sporting longevity
Natasha Mckay of Great Britain skates in the women’s short program at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.
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Natasha Mckay of Great Britain skates in the women’s short program at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games.
Matthew Stockman / Getty Images
At the age of 25, Bell is considered the big brother of the sport.
“I think [raising the age minimum for competition] would promote that idea of longevity, and someone 25 wouldn’t be shocked,” she said.
Natasha McKay, a 27-year-old figure skater from the United Kingdom, is one of the oldest competitors in the Olympic women’s figure skating field.
“I didn’t dance until I was much older,” she told reporters this week. “I’m an oddball. In a way, I feel it’s helping me, because my legs keep going and I haven’t stopped playing, even though I’m 27 years old.”
Sharing about increasing age, she said: “I don’t see anything wrong with increasing age, the body will develop more and there are less injuries, but whatever decision they make, they will do.”
According to Wong, it is difficult to standardize age limits in skating.
“Every body grows up differently,” he said. Increasing the age of competition for women will likely help the sport in the long run.
Young, teen skaters often retire early due to injury or burnout.
“I’d like to see more figure skaters who can have a sustainable and long-lasting career than people who peak at a certain age and don’t reach that point again,” Wong said.
