How old do you have to be to compete in the Winter Olympics?
Athletes young and old compete in the Winter Olympics and the exact age requirements vary by sport.
Per the International Olympic Committee, “there is no specific age limit for taking part in the Olympic Games. This depends on each International Sports Federation and the rules it lays down for its sport.”
It required some needlessly difficult legwork (classic IOC) but we dug through all the international federation paperwork and found out all about Olympic age eligibility. Here’s how old you need to be to compete in various Winter Olympic sports.
Alpine skiing (FIS) / Age minimum: 17 years old
"All athletes participating in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 must be born before 1 January 2001."
Biathlon (IBU) / Age minimum: 22 years old
Athletes competing in the men and women’s biathlons — as opposed to youth or juniors — must be born in or before 1996.
Bobsleigh (IBSF) / Age minimum: 15 years old
"All athletes participating in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 must fulfil the age requirements as stated as stated in bylaw 8.4 Licenses of the IBSF International Bobsleigh Rules."
To obtain an IBSF International License, an athlete must be 15 years of age.
Cross-country skiing (FIS) / Age minimum: 15 years old
"All athletes participating in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 must be born before 1 January 2003 in accordance with Article 341.1.5: Age Categories of the International Ski Competition Rules (ICR)."
Curling / Age minimum: N/A
There do not appear to be any age requirements in curling.
Figure skating (ISU) / Age minimum: 15 years old
"All athletes participating in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 must have reached at least the age of 15 before July 1, 2017."
Freestyle skiing (FIS) / Age minimum: 15 years old
"All athletes participating in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 Ski Cross event must be born before 1 January 2002. In all other Freestyle Skiing events, athletes must be born before 1 January 2003."
Ice hockey (IIHF) / Age minimum: 18 years old
"All male athletes participating in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 must fulfil the age requirements as stated in bylaw 700.1. (IIHF World Senior Men’s Program) of the IIHF Statutes and Bylaws.All female athletes participating in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 must fulfil the age requirements as stated in bylaw 900.1 (IIHF World Senior Women’s Program) of the IIHF Statutes and Bylaws."
The IIHF Statues and Bylaws state players must “have their 18th or later birthday in the years/season the respective Championship is held.”
Luge (FIL) / Age minimum: 15 years old
"All athletes participating in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 must be born before 1 July 2002."
Nordic combined (FIS) / Age minimum: 15 years old
"All athletes participating in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 must be born before 1 January 2003."
Short track speedskating (ISU) / Age minimum: 15 years old
"All athletes participating in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 must be born before 1 July 2002."
Skeleton (FIBT) / Age minimum: 14 years old
"All athletes participating in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 must fulfil the age requirements as stated in bylaw 8.4 Licenses of the IBSF International Skeleton Rules."
The minimum age for IBSF International License is 14.
Ski jumping (FIS) / Age minimum: 15 years old
"All athletes participating in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 must be born before 1 January 2003 in accordance with Article 406.1: The Age Classification of Competitors of the International Ski Competition Rules."
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Snowboard (FIS) / Age minimum: 15 years old
"All athletes participating in the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 must be born before 1 January 2003."
Speedskating (ISU) / Age minimum: 16 years old
"Participants must be born before July 1, 2002 to be eligible to compete in PyeongChang."