- Joined
- Jun 9, 2014
So if you see a woman competing at the Olympics aged 32-36, "Heeeeeeeeyyyyy!!!!"
When I think "professional skater" I think one of two options:
1. Makes a significant enough income to make a living solely off of being a skater (pays the bills)
2. Representative of a National team. Eligible to earn the minimum for large comps like Senior B, Grand Prix, Europeans, Four Continents, Worlds, and possibly Olympics. (Exclude Adult worlds or internationals)
Option 1 does not equal option 2, or vice versa.
Most of these questions wondering, "Am I too late.." seem to be gravitate toward option 2. Is it too late to be a pro competitor? I don't think anyone has achieved this feat starting as a teen or adult skater. (Please prove me wrong if you can think of an example, bc I would love to learn!)
To play devil's advocate:
--- Could you--a late starter-- become a pro competitor--- participating in big comps like Euros, Jr. or Sr. Grand prix, 4C, Worlds, Olympics??? Hmmm.
What if you come from a small federation... in which... you are the highest level skater to represent your country? Like, the only Senior skater, or Senior team? Haven't we all seen girls at Jr. Grand Prix or B internationals, etc. who basically throw doubles, with under rotated 2 axel and cheated triples? Or what about an ice dance team who justqualifies for Oly or Worlds, not qualifying for the free skate? If you can make the minimum qualifications to be sent out on some internationals, with no medal hope or income (you could have sponsors though) from skating, would you be considered a "pro" in the competitive sense?
"I marched and competed in the Olympics, the first from my country. Finished last place, but I was there."
"I am a six-time National champion." (but there were no other competitors so you got the title by default. Still, a title is a title).
Depending where you are located and the level of competition in your region, could you go "pro" as a late starter?
Its not impossible but there at least two conditions which must be met.
1) You would have to meet the country's criteria for competing for such country on the international stage. And for the Olympics, you must be a citizen of said country.
2) There is a TES minimum for international Championships (Sr/Jr Worlds, 4CC, Euros, Olympics) which most skaters cannot met (even if they started skating before they could even talk). And the GP's are by world standings and invites only.