I'm in the same position you're in. I'm 17, from the US, and I want to run in the 2016 Rio Olympics. I'm fairly athletic and pretty good at the events I do in track, but if I really want to have any chance at all of going to the olympics I will have to start real training now. After watching just a few days of the London olympics I'm more motivated than ever to go for it. I think it is possible, but it will take an extreme amount of dedication. When I tell people I want to compete in the olympics they just laugh at me and say there's no way I'd ever make it. They say I don't have enough self control or dedication to do it, which so far has been true, but now it's different. I want to do something incredible and prove everyone around me wrong. I'm tired of just sitting around doing nothing. We only get one chance at life. haha I know that sounds really cliche but it's the truth. So to answer your question, I believe it's possible. And who knows, maybe we'll be meeting each other in 4 years. Good luck!

Run what? Most olympians are well into professional training by 17. Some start old though. Depends on the sport. Remember there are thousands of athletes in all sports that are really good and one or two from a whole country go to the olympics. The gap between reallygood athletes and olympians is BIG. Even if your the best in your city, theres still the whole state and then the whole country.

I don't know about your country but here in the UK, Olympic athlete selection tends to be elitist despite all the lottery money being pumped into sport. However, good luck but I think you will need a miracle.

Haha I thought you meant 2012 olympics at first. I think it's worth trying but it would be hard.

No - go for it

I'm 17 years old, from Australia, and want to run in the 2016 Rio Olympics. The only thing is I didn't train as a child and would basically be starting now. I'm reasonably fit as it is, but could do with an extreme amount of work.

Is it possible? If I dedicate my life to this can I make it?...Or could it be too late to start?

Whatever your answers are I'm still going to go for it; and do my all to make it. But I would love to hear your opinions on just how possible this is.

Thank you!