Told they’re too young, several key skaters will be absent at this week’s figure skating world championships.All three women on the Russian national podium, American women’s champion Alyssa Liu and Canadian national silver medallist Stephen Gogolev won’t compete in Saitama, Japan due to age restriction.Gogolev, having just turned 14 in December, won’t be eligible for worlds until 2021. Liu, 13, will have to wait until 2022. Under the ISU rule, a skater must have turned 15 before July 1 of the previous year to be eligible for worlds.The rule was put in place with the idea that young bodies are not prepared for the constant stress of the number of difficult jumps, amongst other elements, required on the world stage. Skate Canada released a statement supporting the rule, saying its “satisfied with the system we have in place and how it aligns with our long-term athlete development model.”

With the obligation of guiding figure skating in this country, Skate Canada’s approach that errs on the side of caution is entirely in keeping with the philosophies of today.Results take a tollWe are in the midst of a bumper crop of talented teens and, selfishly, I’ll admit …

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