Delegates with the International Skating Union (ISU) voted 100 to 16 to raise the age limit.
The results of the vote were announced by the agency via Twitter on June 7, 2022.
"The ISU Congress voted in favor of gradually increasing the age limit from 15 to 17 years ... for the sake of protecting the physical and mental health, and emotional well-being of Skaters." ISU Figure Skating, Twitter
The age limit will be raised over the next three years.
The decision follows several high-profile doping scandals in the sport, ... the most recent of which involved 15-year-old Russian skater Kamila Valieva at the Beijing Olympics.
The scandal resurfaced questions involving the mental health of young athletes.
"The life of an athlete is short and intense. The experience in this short period of their lives sets the stage for the rest of their lives, physically, mentally and emotionally." Eric Radford, Olympic Medalist Canada, via 'The New York Times'
Many within the ISU praised the decision as "historic."
"This is a very important decision. I would say a very historic decision." Jan Dijkema, ISU President, 'The New York Times'
Others, though, oppose the measure because it will affect the careers of young athletes currently training.
"[The ISU can] see that in our country [Russia], there’s a huge amount of girls and boys, and they want to block it. That’s why they started this whole rigmarole. They can block it only by removing from competition." Tatiana Tarasova, Figure Skating Coach Russia, via 'The New York Times'
The results of the vote were announced by the agency via Twitter on June 7, 2022.
"The ISU Congress voted in favor of gradually increasing the age limit from 15 to 17 years ... for the sake of protecting the physical and mental health, and emotional well-being of Skaters." ISU Figure Skating, Twitter
The age limit will be raised over the next three years.
The decision follows several high-profile doping scandals in the sport, ... the most recent of which involved 15-year-old Russian skater Kamila Valieva at the Beijing Olympics.
The scandal resurfaced questions involving the mental health of young athletes.
"The life of an athlete is short and intense. The experience in this short period of their lives sets the stage for the rest of their lives, physically, mentally and emotionally." Eric Radford, Olympic Medalist Canada, via 'The New York Times'
Many within the ISU praised the decision as "historic."
"This is a very important decision. I would say a very historic decision." Jan Dijkema, ISU President, 'The New York Times'
Others, though, oppose the measure because it will affect the careers of young athletes currently training.
"[The ISU can] see that in our country [Russia], there’s a huge amount of girls and boys, and they want to block it. That’s why they started this whole rigmarole. They can block it only by removing from competition." Tatiana Tarasova, Figure Skating Coach Russia, via 'The New York Times'
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