What qualifies a sport for the Olympics?

"What sport fits me for the Summer/Winter Olympics in 2012/2014, and am I too old to start?"?

• I am nine years old, and I really want to try to go to the Summer or Winter Olympics, but I don't know what sport fits me. I love to go to my gym classes on Tuesdays and Fridays, I am mostly outside, and I love the outdoors. I have never really done anything for the Olympics. Am I too old to start? I think Michael Phelps started when he was 11, and I just would like to know if I was too old. Please list what sport you think would be best for me in the Summer or Winter Olympics in 2012 and 2014. Thank you!

• Answer:

  Well, you are definitely not too old to start. I'm twelve, and I'm about to start short track speed skating, and I hope to go to the 2014 Winter Olympics. Unfortunately, you will not be old enough for the 2012 or 2014 Olympics. Usually, you have to be 16 to enter the Olympics, but for some sports it's only 15 or 14. What do you enjoy doing? If you love to swim, then you might want to try swimming. If you're very flexible, I might suggest gymnastics. If you are a more graceful person, I would go for figure skating or ice dancing in the Winter Olympics. If you are more competitive and would rather be in a race-type sport, track, snowboarding, skiing, long stack speed skating, and short track speed skating are all options. Did you watch the Olympics this year? If you did, were there any sports that really caught your attention that looked fun to you? If so, I would suggest that sport. Also, look up a list of all Olympic sports, and from there look up the specific sport that you would like to try. Try the sport out, and if you like it, keep progressing. If you don't like it, try something else! When you decide on your sport, you must really dedicate all your time and effort to it. Your social life (time with friends) will be limited, and you will have to be able to balance training with school. Since you are still young, don't push yourself too hard. You have many years open to train. By the 2016 Olympics, you will be 15 (or 16 depending on your birthday). I know that you can be 15 if you are a swimmer or even 14 if you are a diver. I also think that gymnastics is 15 as well. As for the 2018 Winter Olympics, you will be 17, and you could do any sport you would like at that age. I hope you find a sport you really like, and then all you have to do is get better and better. I know you'll do great things. I hope to see you compete in the 2016/2018 Olympic Games :) Good Luck!!!