Ice Age

Could you ever imagine peaking professionally before you’re 25? Most of us barely start a career by 25, let alone become hugely successful. Obviously this isn’t anything new for professional athletes, who often retire early in life, but in one of the most popular Olympic sports—women’s figure skating—competitive careers rarely last beyond the early 20s.

This past weekend, two-time Olympian and 2006 Olympic silver medalist Sasha Cohen competed for a spot on the 2010 Olympic figure skating team.  Unfortunately, she missed qualifying (finishing fourth) when she fell during her long program at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships. This most likely marked the end of her competitive skating career.

She is 25.

Looking back at women’s figure skaters during the past two decades, the average age of female gold medalists is 19. The oldest female to win a gold medal since World War II was 24-year-old Shizuka Arakawa from Japan, at the 2006 Olympics. Ironically that was the same year that 27-year-old Irina Slutskaya of Russia became the oldest female in that same time period to receive any medal.

The two women (or should I say girls?) who are leading the 2010 U.S. figure-skating team are Rachel Flatt, 17, and Mirai Nagasu, 16. Both were relative unknowns until now, but if either medal during the Games next month in Vancouver they could end up as famous and successful as former gold medalists Dorothy Hamill, Katarina Witt, or that random girl who stole the gold from Michelle Kwan in 1998.

Judging by their age, both skaters have a fairly good chance of going to the Olympics two more times. It seems like a fulfilling career, but these girls are making huge sacrifices for this kind of life. Young athletes are often portrayed as being “normal” girls who just happen to be headed to the Olympics. However, these girls spend hours every day perfecting their craft. They sacrifice everything normal for a world in which very few succeed and for a career that often ends abruptly after 15 years of painful, intense, and stressful training.

For example, Sasha Cohen (not the Borat guy) started taking ice-skating seriously at age 11. When I was 11, I was obsessed with gymnastics, horseback riding, boys, going to the mall, and ice cream—none of which I’d say I “took seriously.”

Often dubbed “The Ice Queen” due to her harsh and “bitchy” nature, Cohen spent the greater part of her teens simply training. By age 16, she had to skip competitions due to a stress fracture in her back. At 16, I was learning to drive a car and looking for a prom dress.

Cohen reached the Olympics by 17 and was an Olympic silver medalist by 21, the same age most girls are out at bars drinking, dancing and partying with friends after acing a big econ exam. Hardly a “normal” life.

This is why it’s not uncommon for skaters to end their careers when they peak (read: winning Olympic gold). Skaters such as Peggy Fleming, Kristi Yamaguchi, Tara Lipinski (oh, THAT’S her name), and Sarah Hughes all finished competing after they won the gold. It makes sense that after achieving the top prize, they move on to something else.

It’s the skaters that fall short of the gold who have returned to redeem themselves: Nancy Kerrigan, Michelle Kwan, and, most recently, Sasha Cohen. All were around the age of 25 when they made their last attempt at the gold; all fell short once again. Kerrigan received silver in 1994 after the notorious incident involving Tanya Harding. Kwan received a place on the 2006 Olympic team only after petitioning for it, even though she was unable to compete at the U.S. Championships due to injury; she later withdrew from the Olympics, finishing her career sans gold. And Cohen, after leaving the competitive world of skating for four years, was unable to beat the aforementioned teen duo for one last shot at the elusive gold.

After most competitive skaters turn pro or retire, only the true figure-skating enthusiasts ever truly hear about them again. Most go on to do exhibition shows that air on random Saturday afternoons; others become announcers or coaches. For many, that brief time in the spotlight with billions of people worldwide watching them is as good as it gets.

What happens if they don’t win the gold or even medal and, in the process, fail to capture their country’s hearts? Unfortunately, if they don’t “make it” by 25, they don’t get another chance.

I’m not sure what’s worse: starting a career at 25, or ending one. But I do know that even though Cohen’s competitive career appears to be over, despite the injuries and sacrifices she has undoubtedly accomplished a lot by age 25. And maybe that’s all that really matters.