The 2016 Olympics shows older athletes still going strong. It’s great to see older athletes representing their country and winning GOLD medals! This select group of athletes serves as great role model for healthy aging for world-wide Olympic viewers.
Older Athletes Going for the Gold
The lifespan for many sporting stars can be cruelly short – in few professional fields do people hitting 30 get described as “veteran”.
But across the Olympics, there is proof that age need not be a barrier to competing at the highest level.
Sixteen years on from winning gold in the 50m freestyle at Sydney 2000, Anthony Ervin has reclaimed his title, becoming the Olympics’ oldest swimming champion at 35.
But he started to train again in 2011, making the London Olympics in 2012, and already had a gold medal from the 4x100m freestyle event at Rio by the time he lined up on Friday night.
With a silver alongside partner Victoria Thornley, Grainger has become Team GB’s most decorated female Olympian.
But one woman bucking that trend is Oksana Chusovitina, who first competed in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, and has been at every Summer Games since.
She remains a top-level competitor too, making the vault finals in fifth place against rivals some of who weren’t even born when she made her debut.
“When I was younger, I was quicker and I ran and never got tired,” she told the BBC before the games.
“Today, of course, things are different. Now I train with my head.”
Do you feel you’re too old to be an athlete? Take a cue from Oksana Chusovitina and train with your head. Your inner athlete awaits your attention.