Rockville , Maryland ( CNN ) -- If you 've been glued to the Winter Olympics , you might be feeling inspired to get out there and move . Maybe take up curling ? Or hit the slopes ? Well how about stepping onto an ice rink ? Sure , teenagers dominated the figure skating podiums at the Sochi , Olympics , but here in the United States and around the world , a growing number of skaters lacing up to compete are well into their 30s , 40s , 50s , and beyond . At 63 , Rhea Schwartz skates almost everyday . `` Someone dared me to skate when I was 30 , '' Schwartz said . `` And I fell in love with it . '' After that first group lesson , Schwartz signed up for more classes , and then for semi-private lessons , and then for private lessons . But as the years went by , she felt something was missing . `` I realized there was no program for adult skating , '' she said . `` And there were more people who looked like me and not like kids . '' Gold for Russia , silver for South Korea 's Yuna Kim , and controversy ensues . Schwartz started lobbying the U.S . Figure Skating Association to recognize adult figure skaters in 1990 . It took five years to get the governing body to come around . Schwartz was named chair of the first U.S Adult Figure Skating committee in 1995 . This year marks the 20th anniversary of the U.S Adult Figure Skating Championships ; 600 skaters are expected to compete , including 47-year-old Beth Delano . `` The plan is to qualify , compete , and hopefully win , '' said Delano , a three-time national champion . Delano started skating when she was 7 , but stopped when she was 17 to focus on college . She returned to the ice when she was 27 . `` I fell in love with it again , '' said Delano . `` Where else can I wear a pretty dress , skate to beautiful music , and be dripping in Swarovski crystals ? This is what I want to do ! '' Young skaters dream of Olympic gold , no matter the obstacles . This year also marks the 10th anniversary of the International Adult Figure Skating Competition , held each year in Oberstdorf , Germany . `` They come from all over the world , every continent , it is just amazing , '' said Schwartz , who now chairs the international competition . Schwartz expects that 500 skaters representing 35 countries will compete . Delano was 38 when she stepped onto the ice and first heard the words : `` Representing the United States of America . '' `` That was really a dream come true , '' said Delano , who earned silver at the inaugural competition . `` You are never too old to skate , '' says Schwartz . Indeed , the oldest competitive adult skater at D.C. 's Washington Figure Skating Club is 75-year-old Barbara Murry . And Schwartz says one woman from Lake Placid , New York , is well loved by many adult skaters . `` ( She 's ) well into her 80s now , who still skates at adult nationals , and is an inspiration , '' said Schwartz . `` You just keep doing it , because it 's wonderful , '' said Schwartz . `` Not only is adult skating wonderful exercise , but it creates a fabulous community of friends all over the country , and all over the world . ''
A growing number of figure skaters compete well into their 30s , 40s , and even 50s . `` I fell in love with it again , '' Beth Delano says of returning to skating after a decade-long break . ``` It was like going back to school for me because you have so many more years ahead of you.