Aging Athletes

The latest athletic record-breakers and news-maker aren’t precocious preteens or even high school or college protégés. Instead, they’re middle-aged women who are pushing their primes and accomplishing amazing feats. Take Dara Torres, who may swim in next summer’s Olympic Games at the age of 41. All over the world, aging athletes have been setting new records and blazing the trail for men and women to continue competitive pursuits well into their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond.

And experts in the field have been taking note – and speculating that there could be various reasons why older athletes are finishing on top. First of all, middle-aged and elderly athletes have more developed discipline and train ‘smarter’ and more consistently. They learn to pace themselves and stick to a more regular routine that ensures they won’t fizzle out early on. In other words, they know how to train for the marathon, not just the sprint. Additionally, aging athletes practice utility by maximizing their abilities. So even if their physical capabilities have diminished over the years, they compensate by focusing their energies on their strengths.

So what are some commonalities among the best of the best?

• Stretching daily and consistently before and after workouts
• A blend of strength training and cardiovascular workouts
• Maintaining a competitive spirit
• Pacing – knowing the limits of your body and setting reasonable goals
• Staying in the sports for the reason you got into them in the first place and having a sense of fun