After Luke Littler became the youngest darts world champion at the age of 17, we look back at some of the most successful teenage stars in the world of sports.
Boris Becker (tennis)
Like Littler, Becker won arguably the most prestigious event in his sport at the age of 17, triumphing at Wimbledon in 1985 when he became the youngest men's singles champion at the All England Club.
The German successfully defended his title a year later, then won it again in 1989, before ending his career with six Grand Slam titles following success at the 1991 and 1996 Australian Opens and the 1989 US Open.
Becker also became world number 1 in 1991.
Sky Brown (skateboarding)
Skateboarder Sky Brown won two Olympic bronze medals for Great Britain as a teenager
Brown became Great Britain's youngest Olympian and medalist when she won bronze in women's park skateboarding at the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Despite falling on her first two attempts, she managed a third for a spot on the podium at just 13 years and 28 days. She then took another Olympic bronze in Paris in 2024 at the age of 16.
Brown also won the X Games and the park event at the 2023 World Skateboarding Championships to become the first British skateboarding world champion.
Tom Daley (diving)
Daley began diving at the age of seven and began competing nationally and internationally at the age of nine. He was Team GB's youngest Olympian at the 2008 Beijing Games, aged 14, but failed to secure a medal in the 10m or synchro events.
That year he won gold at the British and European championships – and secured gold at the world championships the following year.
Tom Daley was Great Britain's youngest Olympian at the 2008 Beijing Games, aged just 14.
He was the so-called 'poster boy' for the London 2012 Games, winning bronze in the 10m, but it wasn't until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that he finally achieved his career goal of winning Olympic gold with his partner Matty. Lee.
Katie Ledecky (Swimming)
By the end of Ledecky's teenage years, she had five Olympic golds and nine world titles.
Having started swimming at the age of six, she made her international debut at the 2012 London Olympics at the age of 15 when she surprised spectators and coaches by winning gold in the women's 800m freestyle.
She won four golds, two silvers and two world records when she competed in Rio 2016 four years later.
Ledecky, still only 27, took her Olympic medal tally to 14 when she took four at the 2024 Paris Games.
Swimmer Katie Ledecky burst onto the scene at the 2012 London Olympics at the age of 15
Wilfred Benitez (boxing)
Wilfred 'El Radar' Benitez became the youngest world champion in boxing history when he beat Antonio Cervantes in March 1976 at just 17 years old.
He turned professional at the age of 15 and was managed by his father, Gregorio Benitez. He and his brothers Frankie and Gregory were from one of Puerto Rico's prominent boxing families, forging their success through New York.
With his victory in 1976, he also won the light heavyweight and lineal light heavyweight titles.
first (football)
Pele won the World Cup in 1958 with Brazil at the age of 17
After a record-breaking career, Pele was considered one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century.
At the age of 15, his coach told club directors in his native Sao Paolo that he would become “the greatest footballer in the world”. A year later he was the top scorer in the Brazilian national league, which led to a call-up to the national team.
At the age of 17 in 1958, he inspired his country to victory at the World Cup with a hat-trick in the semi-finals and two goals in the final.
Wayne Gretzky (ice hockey)
Gretzky debuted for the Edmonton Oilers in the 1979/80 season and became the first teenager to score 50 goals in a season. The Big' has scored the most points in NHL history, with his tally of 2,857 to date.
He is the only NHL player to score more than 200 points in a single season, which he accomplished four times.
Ronnie O'Sullivan (snooker)
O'Sullivan turned professional at the age of 16 in 1992, after winning a match in just 43 minutes during his debut season.
A year later, he became the youngest winner of the British snooker championship at the age of 17, while at the age of 19 he also secured the Masters title.
Ronnie O'Sullivan starred in snooker as a teenager and into his forties
Rocket has since become the oldest winner of each of the sport's Triple Crown events, winning the World Championship at 46, the UK Championship at 47 and the Masters at 48.
Characterized by his attacking style and emotional outbursts, O'Sullivan is regarded as one of the greatest snooker players of all time and now holds a record 41 titles, including seven World Championship victories at The Crucible.
That longevity is something Littler will certainly strive for.
Sachin Tendulkar (cricket)
Tendulkar was encouraged to take up cricket at the age of 11 as a way to get out of trouble at school.
Now regarded as one of the greatest batsmen the sport has seen, he broke records as the youngest player to debut for India in both Test and One Day International cricket at the age of 16.
He remains the leading run-scorer in Test and ODI cricket.
Towards the end of his teenage years he made history when he was selected to play for Yorkshire. The prestigious club team has never before selected a player from outside this country – let alone from England.
Michael Phelps (swimming)
Swimmer Phelps won six Olympic gold medals at the 2004 Athens Games as a 19-year-old – in the 100m and 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m medley, as well as two relays.
The American added eight more golds in Beijing 2008 and four more in London 2012, while winning a total of 22 Olympic medals, as well as 26 at the World Championships.