Raising competition age for figure skaters not enough to combat abusive coaches, former skaters say

By the time she was a teenager, Canadian figure skating champion Sandra Bezic was flying around the world to compete.

Pushed by her parents to be at the top of the sport, she made it to the Olympics in 1972, when she was just 15 years old.

At 17, Bezic retired from skating. She was struggling with an injury, burnout and pressure from those around her. 

"I hit a wall. There was no support system in place at the time. It was just, you know, sort of all my fault I failed," she told CBC News in an interview.

Bezic, now a coach herself, is one of several Canadian figure skating icons who are welcoming new international rules that will gradually raise the age of competition from 15 currently to 17 by the time of the next Winter Olympics in 2026.

The International Skating Union (ISU) says the restriction is aimed at "protecting the physical and mental health, and emotional well-being of the skaters."

The move follows a controversy at this year's winter Olympics after Russian coach Eteri Tutberidze berated tearful 15-year-old competitor Kamila Valieva after her disastrous performance. Days earlier, Valieva had tested positive for a banned drug, but was permitted to compete because athletes under 16 are generally not held responsible for having taken banned drugs.

"We were watching child abuse in real time. And it was devastating. It was horrifying," said Bezic of Tutberidze's conduct towards the young athlete.

Kaetlyn Osmond, who retired at 23 as Canada's most decorated female singles figure skater with three Olympic medals, told CBC Sports she supports raising the age for competing.

"I think raising the age of 17 will just help the longevity of the sport, help a body fully mature before the demands and the pressure of the