Hi. I know I probably sound like an idiot for asking this, but hey ho. I'm 16 years old, and I'm interested in taking up a new sport. I played football all my life until about 6 months ago, when my team split. Turns out I don't enjoy football as much as I did as a kid, but I love sport and have always been an athletic person, so want to try something new. I was thinking tennis, because I love the sport and used to play when I was younger, and there's also lots of clubs/courts near me. However, I'm a very competitive person, and I know that many people who go on to be at the top of their sport have been playing from a very early age (especially tennis), and I want to play a sport where I can actually make it somewhere instead of it just being a hobby. Are there any sports where it is possible to start late and go somewhere (e.g - tournaments/professional), or am I too late?

There is an Olympic pole vaulter named Jenn Suhr. She started vaulting in 2004 when she was about 22 or 23, after training for 4 years, she won Silver in the 2008 Olympics, and gold in 2012. She is also only the second woman in history to vault over 5 meters. You have a huge selection of sports to pick, as long as you pick what you love to do and work hard at it you can go far.

Matt Scot (my former depute head boy) started playing rugby at the age of 16, he played for the Edinburgh u17s and u18s having had less than a year training at an amateur clubs then played for the Scottish u19s and u20s and is now part of the Scottish national rugby squad at age 22. I started athletics a year ago and currently enter lots and lots of competitions, it is possible in most sports you've just got to go for it.

Whether you can pick it up late is base on your work ethic and love of the sport. but no its never to late. Good luck get at it.

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