A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:After watching the olympics I have felt really inspired to get back into sports! When I was younger I used to love sports that I actually was on every sports team at my school and I was really competitive, I remember every year I would always win first place in every sport I competed in on sports day! But stupidly when I got into secondary school (high school), I was more interested in being popular and doing sports wasn't cool, so I suppose I lost sight of what was more important and I regret it now, because I used to be really good at it and I enjoyed it so much! My mum tried to get me involved in it again when I was about 16, but at that point it was too late because years past and I wasn't interested anymore.But since I help out at the olympics I meet so many athletes and hearing their stories of how it feels to compete, how they got involved and such... It makes me realise that could have been me and that I don't play ANY sports, all because I screwed it up. I was so stupid and shallow. Well, I'm 20 next month and I told my parents I'm going to join my university sports teams and get back into sports! Of course I don't expect to be in the olympics, I just miss competing and playing for fun. But they said that It's too late, that I'm too old to get back into sports and I should have continued when I was younger. But instead i've ruined it for myself and not many people my age will have a great of a chance of competing and being chosen for teams, that there's an age most people stop playing them, which apparently is in a few years for me?Are they right? I mean have I missed my chance at playing sports again and competing in games or even going professional? I know I can't turn back time, I figure since they're my parents they must be right surly... but if anyone thinks otherwise please let me know!! I'm really hoping they are wrong...
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male
reader, anonymous, writes (8 August 2012): The oldest medal winner in the olympics this year (so far) was 56, so your never too old. How can you be too old to get fit and into shape, and besides if you enjoy it then there is absolutely no reason why you shouldnt start again. I'm 24 now and i've only in the last 6 months begun to play sports again and i feel soooo much better and healthier than i did when i just didn't do anything. Now i'm slightly different to you in as much as i am average at most sports but good at none. At the end of the day you're an adult now so you need to follow your heart and trust your gut. Do what is right by you...
A
female
reader, Basschick  +, writes (8 August 2012):
 You are still plenty young to play sports. Why not go for it? There's absolutely no reason you can't join a volleyball team, or a softball team, tennis, racquetball or just join a gym and take up aeorbics. Life is motion and personally, I think everyone would be alot healthier if they never stopped playing some kind of sport or physical activity. Don't listen to your parents. You're not competing for the olympics but you can still stay in shape and continue to be active with a sport you enjoy!
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A
male
reader, SensitiveBloke +, writes (7 August 2012):
 Chris Hoy's just won a gold medal today in track cycling aged 36, so no it's not too late. But you can compete at many levels, so get back into sport and enjoy it!
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A
female
reader, person12345  +, writes (7 August 2012):
 No they're being ridiculous. The vast majority of athletes never make it to any kind of large scale competitions. Of course it's not too late. You're still a teenager, not 80. So you took a little break. Who cares? I was watching the Olympics last night and one woman running the 400m hurdles went in as the reigning world champion, she's 29 and has two kids, but had several multiple year breaks in her running. She is one of the favorites to win gold this year even with her breaks and age.
Two "sayings" apply here. Haters gonna hate, and just do your thing. Go have fun.
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A
female
reader, Daisy_Daisy +, writes (7 August 2012):
 I think maybe your parents are trying to avoid you bring disappointed in the future, if you have a fantasy of being in the next Olympics for example. But you sound like your goals are realistic enough, and I think you should go for it! You're heading to university, and sports clubs are a big part of uni life for a lot of people, and a great way to make friends. I think you should absolutely get back into sports and enjoy it! If you have a natural talent for sport then so much the better.
I think the Olympics has inspired a lot of people and it's great! I second anonymous's comments about the helpers at the games - you're great!
Have fun at uni and good luck with the sports. Think about what you'd really like to do, and approach those clubs at freshers fayre. Good luck!
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A
male
reader, anonymous, writes (7 August 2012): No chance has been lost if you beleive! There are a lot of good examples of late starters in sport, and there are some sports you can compete right at the top till you are quite old - so no worries over age.
and as for playing for fun - you will never miss that chance! doesn't matter what age you can still do that. uni is a great time for playing sport and getting involved - i remember playing for our college 2nd squash team and rowing in our college 3rd boat... we weren't anything special, but we were fought just as hard as anyone else, just against other college 3rd boats, and loved every second of it. Even now I only really play 1 game of squash a week, but its against people of similar ability and its great when the games are so close. Plus some of the good rowers at oxford and cambridge never get in a boat till they start uni, yet end up rowing in the boat races... plus isn't there one of our olympic rowers who hadn't stepped in a boat 4 years ago? Sorry to sound mean to your parents, but they are so wrong.
And btw a message to you as a helper at the games - I'd just like to say you guys have done a fantastic job - been to a few events and you guys really make the experience the best!
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