International Skating Union (ISU) has proposed that the minimum age for senior figure skating to be raised from 15 to 17. The move comes to help the athletes deal better with the physical and mental demands in order to be better prepared for senior events. The proposal can be in effect during the 2026 Italy Winter Olympics.
International Skating Union (ISU) statement
It is conceivable that allowing underage athletes to compete may subject them to loads and risks that are thought to be inappropriate for their age. Not only physically but in terms of the psychological and social development of the child, junior athletes need to cope with multiple stressors on their pathways towards elite sport.
