Here’s what you need to know about Olympic age requirements

Watching the Olympics can sometimes make you feel a bit older, especially when you see a 16-year-old gymnast stealing the show or a 21-year-old sprinter setting new world records. It’s a stark reminder that many of the world’s top athletes are significantly younger than most people.

But don’t worry, the Olympics aren’t just for the young. Depending on the sport, athletes can compete well into their 30s and beyond. For example, 39-year-old LeBron James is a testament to how it’s possible to represent your country at a high level even as you get older—an age when many might not think you’re at your peak.

So, is there an age limit for competing in the Olympics? The answer is a bit complicated because the rules vary across different sports and countries. Each sport has its own age eligibility requirements, and these can differ depending on the organization governing the sport and the country’s regulations.

Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know about age requirements for Olympic athletes.

The question of age eligibility for the Olympics can be a bit tricky because there isn’t a universal age limit for all competitors. According to the official Olympic Charter, there’s no specific age requirement set by the Olympics itself. Instead, it states, “There may be no age limit for competitors in the Olympic Games other than as prescribed in the competition rules of an IF as approved by the IOC Executive Board.”

So, can anyone just join the Olympics? Not exactly. The age limits are determined by each sport’s International Sports Federation (IF), and these rules must be approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). For example, diving requires athletes to be at least 14 years old, while gymnastics has a minimum age of 16.

Things get even more complex because individual countries can also impose their own age restrictions. For sports like swimming and track and field, there’s no broad international age limit, but each country can set its own rules. In many countries, including the U.S. and Canada, the minimum age is typically 13. However, some countries have different rules: Spain requires athletes to be 14, Russia has a minimum age of 18, Poland, Ireland, and the Netherlands set their minimum at 16, and Italy requires athletes to be at least 14.

So while 13 is the most common minimum age for Olympic athletes, a few sports and countries have different requirements. For a detailed list of specific age requirements by country and sport, you can find more information online.