With thousands of athletes having made their Olympic debuts in the Sochi 2014 Olympics, few have gained worldwide acclaim. Three athletes, who have captured the attention of millions, are not only remarkable for their drive and skill; these Olympians are also just 15 years old.
Yulia Lipnitskaya: Russia
This ice princess held her own in these Olympic games and helped lead the Russian team to gold in the team figure skating event. She wowed audiences around the world with her graceful jumps, spins, and incredible flexibility. Lipnitskaya began skating at the age of four, and she is the youngest winner ever of the European Championships as of this January. After receiving the second best-ever results in the ladies’ free skating event with a 141.51 point score, her biggest rival in these Olympic games was South Korean skater Yuna Kim who currently holds the record with 150.06 points.
Ayumu Hirano: Japan
Credit: Sochi 2014 Winter Games, Flikr Creative Commons.
Much to the surprise and disappointment of many Americans, this young snowboarder edged out Shaun White to win a silver medal in the men’s snowboard halfpipe competition. He began snowboarding at the age of four and has been on the slopes ever since. He trains in Vail, Colorado and does not live in Japan for most of the year, so he misses a lot of school. He explained, “My school is very supportive of my snowboarding, so they make it happen for me. My parents, too, are down with me snowboarding, and they are very supportive. It is what I do best.”
Alina Muller: Switzerland
Credit: Joel Lavoie, Flikr Creative Commons.
Competing in an infamously tough and dangerous sport, ice hockey, Alina Muller is an outstanding athlete. The competition that she faces playing against women who are not only at least 3 inches taller than she but also 30-60 pounds heavier is a testament to her talent on the ice. She comes from a family of hockey players; her brother Mirco Muller is a defenseman in the WHL and currently plays for the Everett Silvertips. Her role models are Zach Parise and Jeff Skinner, from the United States and Canada, respectively.
These young athletes stood out from the crowd for their ambition and outstanding talent against all odds and the sometimes restrictive limits of age. These are certainly athletes to watch for in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeonChang, South Korea!