Does figure skating stunt your growth or cause you to be shorter?

I started figure skating when I was about 7 years old, but quit after 3 years because our family moved. I just turned 14 years old last month, and I want to go back to figure skating. But I am very short, only about 5" at the most. I want to figure skate, but I also want to grow to at least average height. My father tells me that figure skating might stunt your growth or cause you to be shorter, is this true?|||No, figure skating doesn't stunt your growth - what an idea! hahaha! Your father's just teasing you. In fact, it makes you a little taller because it improves posture and core body strength as well as extension.





As long as you don't have an eating disorder, which can cause growth and developmental problems, it doesn't matter what sport you pursue.





While most female pairs partners are below-average height, there are tall and petite female skaters in the other disciplines as well.





The underlying question is why is your father discouraging you from taking up skating?


Perhaps your family has time or budget issues - that's a private discussion that you need to have.





In the meantime, you should just go to the rink and skate. Take a friend or two, make a friend or two. If you still want to do skating, talk to your parents and work it out.





Good luck.|||average height -- 4' 5'' to 6'





no it is not true. It hasn't stunted my growth anyways|||No, figure skating will not stunt your growth in any way.





Really, REALLY intensive athletic training can do that. Skating two or three times a week? No difference at all.|||Yes figure skating can cause you to be shorter. Figure skating is considered an compact sport. Such as when you land a jump, you're placing a remarkable amount of force and weight on your bones and muscles. Due to the impact of the force on your muscles your body might not grow as much because being taller for skating is much harder on the joints and bones. There is also a benefit with being shorter when skating, less distance to fall. The possible reduction in height only counts if you are skating and doing jumps more often during your growing years. As such skaters are often about a few inches shorter then they normally would have been.





I'd like to note because you've just turned 14, you're very very unlikely to grow more. Most girls last growing age is around 13, so you've likely reached your adult height. Though it is possible you might grow another half and inch or so but if you were to start skating for a large amount of time, you might not grow that last small bit.





Overall, because of your current height, I wouldn't worry about taking up skating because it will make you shorter.





Take it from a Girl who's 5'2, the doctors predicted I'd be at least 5'5 if not 5'6, and I've got the big feet to prove it.





Addition: Forgot to mention, skaters often have higher bone density due to the compacting of bones! Means we're less likely to break bones and have osteoporosis when older.|||no way i don't know one person who has ever had their growth stunted by skating!