You Won’t Believe How Early These Sports Stars Started
Plenty of athletes begin young, but a few were already deep into training before most kids knew how to spell their last name. They started with habit, interest, and hours that added up before anyone noticed.
This list tracks the early paths of familiar names, back when practice looked like play and competition was part of the routine.
Tiger Woods Picked up a Golf Club Before Preschool
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Long before Tiger Woods wore a green jacket, he was knocking golf balls around the family garage. Before he turned 3, he appeared on TV going against Bob Hope. By 15, he’d already won the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, the youngest ever to do so. Tiger’s path to golf greatness was paved in preschool.
Tara Lipinski Was Skating Toward Olympic Gold at Age 6
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Tara Lipinski started skating at age 3, on roller skates. In Sewell, New Jersey, it began as a fun outing with a friend but quickly turned into a passion. By 9, she had already claimed a national title at the U.S. Roller Skating Championships. She made the switch to figure skating around age 6.
Wayne Gretzky Took to the Ice Before He Was 3
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They didn’t call him The Great One for nothing. Gretzky’s hockey obsession started before age 3, and he was already scoring goals like it was his job. At 10, he notched 378 goals and 139 assists in a single season playing for the Brantford Nadrofsky Steelers. By his teens, he was bending the sport to his will.
Gabby Douglas Flipped Into Elite Gymnastics by Age 6
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Gabby Douglas started gymnastics at age 6, thanks to her sister Arielle persuading their mother to sign her up for classes. Her training began at Excalibur Gymnastics in Virginia Beach, where her talent surfaced quickly. By 8, she won the Level 4 all-around title at the 2004 Virginia State Championships. This marked the beginning of a career that would lead to Olympic gold and history-making moments.
Shaun White Was Signing Sponsorships at Seven
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Nicknamed “The Flying Tomato,” Shaun White’s athleticism was already catching attention at age 7 when he received his first snowboarding sponsorship. His intensity and technique matured fast. By his teens, he was a household name who racked up Olympic medals and redefined what youth athletes could achieve in extreme sports.
Kobe Bryant Started Training Before Kindergarten
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At three, Kobe told his mom he’d play in the NBA. Most kids say stuff like that, but he meant it. He studied basketball obsessively, trained like a pro by grade school, and skipped college entirely to jump straight into the NBA at 18.
Missy Franklin Swam Her First Olympic Trials at 13
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While most teens were figuring out high school lockers, Missy Franklin was qualifying for the Olympic Trials. Her love for the water started early, and her discipline made waves. Four gold medals in London by age 17 proved her childhood hours in the pool were more than well spent.
John McEnroe’s Tennis Game Turned Heads as a Teen
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John McEnroe’s talent surfaced young, with a playing style that was both cerebral and confrontational. At 18, he stormed into the semifinals as a qualifier. His style was bold and a little chaotic, and wasn’t made overnight. That fierce energy started building long before his pro debut.
Venus Williams Went Undefeated on the Junior Circuit
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By 10, Venus Williams was serving up dominance. She racked up 63 straight wins on the junior circuit without dropping a match. Her power and focus were so far ahead of the curve, it was clear she wasn’t just another talented kid—she was the future of women’s tennis.
Mia Hamm Joined the U.S. National Team at 15
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At 15, Mia Hamm joined the U.S. Women’s National Team—the youngest ever. But her journey started years earlier when she started sharpening her skills against older boys who learned quickly not to underestimate her.
Michelle Wie Swung a Golf Club at Age 4
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Michelle Wie demonstrated control and skill that rivaled seasoned pros. She qualified for a USGA event at just 10, and by 14, she was competing on the PGA Tour. Her swing had the precision of someone who’d been at it since preschool, because she had.
Serena Williams Started Hitting at Four and Never Stopped
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Serena was four when she first picked up a racket. Her father trained her alongside Venus, and her early years were spent mastering the basics and developing a killer instinct. By 14, she was already competing professionally, but her foundation had been laid years before in hot sun and hard drills.
Simone Biles Started Gymnastics at 6
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It all started with a daycare trip to a gym. Simone Biles tried a backflip, and that was that. By eight, she was in elite training. Her gravity-defying routines would go on to redefine gymnastics, but her secret was relentless work starting from a very young age.
Lionel Messi Started Playing Competitively by Age 8
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At eight years old, Messi was already turning heads in Argentina with dazzling footwork and vision. Despite being diagnosed with a hormone deficiency, he pushed forward, eventually joining Barcelona’s youth academy at 13. From there, he created one of soccer’s most legendary careers.
Lebron James’ Basketball Career at Nine
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By age 9, LeBron James was playing organized ball and dominating. Coaches and scouts quickly realized the talent. With cameras following him before prom season and a pro contract at 18, LeBron skipped college, but not the hard work it took to get there.