Kwan has to suffer growing pains: Ice skating

The ageing process can be painful for figure skaters. Michelle Kwan, only 16, is facing the prospect of losing her world title to a 14-year- old fellow American.

Tara Lipinski is poised for victory at the World Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland and become the youngest skater to lift the women's title. Already competing before the International Skating Union banned under- 15s from international competition, she claimed Kwan's US title last month and then won the Champions' Series final.

Kwan, with nine consecutive victories, had seemed invincible, but her skating is suffering as she matures, something the 4ft 10in Lipinski has yet to endure.

"Everyone goes through it, there's nothing you can do about it," said 19-year-old Nicole Bobek, the third member of the US women's squad. "You think what's wrong, I'm trying so hard. You get taller, your feet get bigger, you get hips and when your body changes it throws your timing off. You just have to tell yourself you'll get through this."

Men suffer, too. Canada's Elvis Stojko, who became the first skater to land a quadruple-triple jump two weeks ago, said: "I grew three inches and gained 20lb in one year, it changed my timing drastically. I've chatted to Michelle about it and told her we've all gone through this.

"She's growing but she's thinking a little bit more too about what's going on around her. The realisation can be overwhelming."

Britain's Zoe Jones failed to qualify for the short programme after finishing 18th in group B.