The answer, it turns out, depends on what sport you're competing in and, perhaps surprisingly, isn't determined by the International Olympic Committee's official rules.
Each sport's international regulatory body governs the rules of their respective sports, including age eligibility - with some sports having no minimum age restrictions. To help you better understand the age requirements, we have broken it down by some of the most popular sports.
Summer Olympic Events
There are a handful of events, including swimming, in which athletes of any age can compete, according to World Aquatics. Some sports that are newer to the Olympic stage, including surfing and skateboarding, also have no minimum age requirement.
Diving, on the other hand, has a minimum age requirement of 14 years old.
Gymnastics requires artistic gymnasts to be at least 16 years old, as decided by the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG).
Equestrian and boxing have some of the older requirements. Competitors must be at least 18 years of age.
Fun fact: Did you know that whilst boxers can compete with facial hair, the IOC still prohibits boxers with beards or mustaches?
Winter Olympic Events
The next winter Olympics will be staged in Italy in February 2026 and, as with summer events, some sports, such as curling, don't appear have an official age minimum.
Bobsleigh, cross-country skiing, freestyle skiing, luge, snowboarding, and several other winter sports all require athletes to be 15 or older in order to compete on the senior level at international competitions. Figure skating also requires senior competitors to have turned 15 by 1 July, prior to the start of the season.
Alpine skiers must be 17 or older.
Biathlon competitors must turn at least 22 in the same year as the Games.
Everything else you might want to know about the forthcoming games in Paris can be found on the official website.
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