The trials and tribulations of 10 sporting child prodigies past and present

Jodie Williams, Jennifer Capriati and Ellie Simmonds enjoyed success at an early age - Getty Images
Jodie Williams, Jennifer Capriati and Ellie Simmonds enjoyed success at an early age - Getty Images

Sport has long welcomed and thrived off the young stars who have burst on to the scene in their choosen field and enjoyed instant success. But glory at a tender age can come with its pitfalls. Molly McElwee charts the ups and downs of 10 sporting child prodigies past and present.

Jennifer Capriati

You could lose count of the 'youngest ever' records American tennis player Capriati you clocked up during her career, but hers is a classic tale of too-much-too-young. Her professional debut came aged 13 in 1990 and she reached the French Open semi-final in her first ever grand slam appearance that same year. Capriati remains the youngest tennis player to reach the top 10 (aged 14) and won Olympic Gold in 1992 at just 15. Just 18 months later though, the exhausted teen took an extended break from the tour in which time she was arrested for shoplifting and drug possession and entered rehab. She eventually came back in the late 90s and in 2001 won her first grand slam, one of three singles titles before her 2004 retirement.

Michelle Wie

The Hawaiian-born golfer made waves as an amateur from as young as 10, and when she turned pro just before her 16th birthday attracted a slew of huge sponsorship deals, including Nike. Those endorsements meant that in 2007 she was named as fourth highest earner in Forbes' list of under 25s, after accumulating $19m (£15.2m) that year. Wie did not  instantly live up to expectations but won her first major in 2014 and has won four LPGA tour victories beyond that.

Michelle Wie turned pro before her 16th birthday - Credit: Getty Images
Michelle Wie turned pro before her 16th birthday Credit: Getty Images

Gabby Douglas

At 16, Gabby Douglas became the first woman of colour to win all-around Olympic gold in gymnastics at London 2012. Part of the 'Fierce Five' USA squad which dominated the London Games, Douglas became America's sweetheart, with a Barbie doll created in her image, talk show appearances and a reality TV show to boot. But in 2016 she was overthrown, with teammate Simone Biles's utter domination pushing Douglas just outside qualification for the final of the all-around competition in Rio. She did win her third Olympic gold medal at those Games with the team though.

Jodie Williams

When you think of current British sprinters you think of golden-girl Dina Asher-Smith. But at one time the name on everybody's lips  was Jodie Williams who was later dubbed 'Miss Moneylegs'. Williams holds world junior champion in 100m and 200m and went unbeaten for an astonishing five years over 151 races in her teens. The now-25-year-old's senior career has spluttered since a hamstring injury during the London 2012 trials triggered long-term injury issues. Despite European silver in the 200m and picking up two medals at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Williams has struggled with the "feeling of failure" and almost quit the sport.

Jodie Williams went unbeaten for an astonishing five years over 151 races in her teens - Credit: Empics
Jodie Williams went unbeaten for an astonishing five years over 151 races in her teens Credit: Empics

Ellie Simmonds

The British Paralympic swimmer won two gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as the youngest member of the team, aged just 13. It earned her the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year award that December and an MBE the following year. She has not slowed since, adding a further three golds at the London and Rio Games as well as upping her title to OBE and becoming eight-time World Champion throughout her career.

Martina Hingis

The 'Swiss Miss' sensation was world no 1 for a total of 209 weeks throughout her illustrious tennis career; starting in March 1997 when she became the youngest top-ranked player in history at 16. This came to pass after she won the Australian Open earlier that year, her first grand slam singles title as the youngest to achieve the feat that century. But aged 22, as a five-time slam champion, she announced her early retirement, citing pain and injuries. She would 'retire' three times over her career, returning to have great late success on the doubles circuit.

Martina Hingis was world No 1 at the age of 16 - Credit: Getty Images
Martina Hingis was world No 1 at the age of 16 Credit: Getty Images

Beverly Klass

In 1967, American golfer Beverly Klass was the youngest person to ever compete in the US Women's Open, at the tender age of 10-years-old (her record has since been broken). But despite being a child star, and winning various tournaments as a teen amateur, she has since said her story was one of exploitation and abuse at the hands of her father. She did not take her prodigious beginnings into adulthood, failing to win a single LPGA tournament during her career.

Sky Brown

The British skateboarder has her sights set on Tokyo 2020, while most girls her age would be contemplating the challenge of starting high school. At 11, she is the youngest athlete on a Nike sponsorship deal, and won a bronze medal at the World Championships earlier this month. Brown is Britain's best hope of qualifying a place for skateboarding's debut at the Games next year and if she does reach the Games will break a record that has stood for more than 90 years to become Britain's youngest summer Olympian.

Sky Brown won a bronze medal at the World Championships earlier this year - Credit: PA
Sky Brown won a bronze medal at the World Championships earlier this year Credit: PA

Chloe Kim

The 19-year-old American joined the US snowboarding team in 2013 when she was barely a teenager. In 2018 she made history by becoming the youngest woman to win an Olympic snowboarding gold in the women's snowboard halfpipe at 17-years-old. With such success comes fame though, and Kim recently described the "difficult transition" attending Princeton College since her Pyeongchang win: "I would really appreciate it if I had a comfortable space here but I don’t. As soon as I go to the dining hall, people stare at me. They whisper. They take pictures of me without me knowing. I don’t like it."

Lydia Ko

The South Korean-born New Zealander started playing golf aged five. At just seven, she drew plaudits while competing in the New Zealand national amateur championships. Now 22, she is a two-time major winner and was the youngest golfer, of any gender, to hold the No 1 spot in the world rankings back in 2015, aged 17. In winning the Evian Championship later that year she would also become the youngest woman to win a major. In 2016 she added the Ana Championship and a silver Olympic medal to her growing list of accolades.