This November’s editorial represents the re-introduction of the Special Edition volume, an initiative that the editorial board and I brought back to highlight important topics that warrant a special focus and collection of recent research studies. This first edition celebrates the Olympic and Paralympic Games held recently in Paris from July to September and was commissioned to acknowledge the contributions made by many young athletes who are younger than 18 years. I was lucky enough to be in Paris watching the incredible performances of such competitors, and I was in awe of what must have been many years of dedication and commitment enabling them to represent their countries. Witnessing many of these incredible performances also confirmed to me that we, as a scientific and medical community, must do everything that we can to ensure that the health and well-being of our youngest competitors is of paramount concern.
Recent consensus statements, such as the one brought about by the International Olympic Committee to focus on the youth athlete in a healthy, safe, and sustainable paradigm, are long overdue. However, given the nonbinding recommendations by the International Olympic Committee consensus, it is up to the national and international sporting organizations to directly enact a more robust scientific approach to research regarding the preparation, training, recovery, and medical practices of youth athletes. Only by redressing the imbalance of research, that is predominantly directed at adults, will we improve on our management and care for the performance, health, and well-being of young athletes. Importantly, as ever, we should first ensure philosophically that the sport benefits the young athletes and not the other way around. In compiling these latest research papers published in Pediatric Exercise Science, I am grateful to Professors Kelly Arbour-Nicitopoulos, Alfred Nimmerichter, and Karin Pfeiffer for acting as guest editors. Furthermore, I urge those already working and researching with our youngest competitors to continue to do the best sports and exercise science and medicine possible and to encourage new researchers in this important area of youth sports’ development.