The "Age Rule" Also Affects Olympic Figure Skating

The media has made the world aware about the controversy involving the ages of the Chinese gymnasts. National sports columnist, Tim Dalberg, has recently voiced his opinion on the age issue. I agree with his thoughts. Olympic participation should be open to all ages.

In 2008, some of the best figure skaters from the United States couldn't compete at the World Figure Skating Championships. US Pair Skating Champions Keauna McLaughlin and Rockne Brubaker couldn't participate since McLaughlin was too young, and Ladies champion Mirai Nagasu and Ladies Silver Medalist Rachael Flatt were also too young to participate. Fortunatelly, those athletes will be old enough to participate in 2010, but why should anyone be cut off from participating in the Olympics due to his or her age? Swimmers don't have an "age rule," so why can't the same guidelines apply to figure skating and gymnastics?

• Join the Discussion: Should figure skaters younger than 15 be allowed to participate in the Olympics?

• Cast Your Vote: What Do You Think the Age Limit Should Be for World and Olympic Figure Skating Competitors?

_{Rachael Flatt, the 2008 U.S. National Silver Medalist, and Mirai Nagasu, the 2008 U.S. Ladies National Champion, could not compete at the 2008 World Figure Skating Championships due to figure skating's "age rule."
Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images}