Sixteen is a transformative age for anyone. You learn to drive, experience new freedom and start to form your own independence. For an athlete, sixteen can be something bigger. It's the time you separate yourself - when you take the leap from high school hero to international superstar. How does a sixteen-year-old juggle the pressure of competition, failure, success, on top of the everyday struggles of being a teenager? Take a look at 16 athletes in 16 stories. This is The 16 Project.
The Youngest Player in MLS
America's Ping Pong Prodigy
The LeBron of Weightlifting
The Future of Paralympic Swimming
And here's an overview of all the editorial pieces.