Figure skating-American Bell defies age with help from 'fairy godmother' Rippon

American figure skating champion Mariah Bell is proof that a little bit of madness and "shameless belief" can go a long way in helping a late bloomer stay competitive in an event dominated by teenagers, according to proud coach Adam Rippon.

The 25-year-old Bell will be her country's oldest figure skater in 94 years to compete in an Olympic women's singles when she takes to the ice in Beijing.

Under the guidance of Olympic medallist Rippon and senior U.S. coach Rafael Arutyunyan, Bell claimed her first national title on her ninth attempt at Nashville last month, inspiring older figure skaters everywhere.

Rippon, who made his Olympic debut at 28 four years ago at Pyeongchang and won a team bronze, said he saw the same fire in Oklahoma native Bell that consumed him during his late-career flourish.

"You need to be a little bit crazy and a little bit delusional to think that you can still compete when everyone is like 15-years-old and you’re 25 and can rent a car legally," Rippon told Reuters in an interview.

"There needs to be a little bit of shameless belief in yourself - which Mariah has.

"Obviously I am delusional, so of course I felt the same way."

Women's figure skating has become the playground of teenagers in recent years.

Alina Zagitova won the women's singles gold at Pyeongchang at the age of 15, ahead of silver medallist and fellow Russian Evgenia Medvedeva, who was 18.

Quad-jumping Russian teens, led by 15-year-old favourite Kamila Valieva, could easily sweep all three podium places in the Beijing singles.

'FAIRY GODMOTHER'

Outlier Bell became the oldest U.S. women's singles champion in 95 years in Nashville. She was surprised by the fuss over it.

"All of a sudden at the nationals there were these facts being thrown around