Fitness and Age

Photojoe

What happens to a pro sportsperson when they go past 30 that they lose performance. Is it entirely a physiological thing or is part lifestyle where they lose a bit of drive? Is it also maybe just from years of attrition from playing at the highest levels and that a normal person wouldn't be affected as much.

amacachi

It's different for different sports. Often sports with more importance on reactions and agility will have the earliest age for people losing the performance edge, then endurance sports, then strength athletes will usually last longest.

In all cases performance will usually drop somewhat, when it comes to getting out of shape a lot of it is diet. A lot of athletes who would have been on very high calorie diets seem to put on a lot of weight when they retire due to not cutting enough calories after laying off the exercise. In general it's probably harder to keep fitness and physique as one ages, just depends on how someone adapts their calorie intake and exercise as to how quick the decline will be.

kevpants

I have a bit of a problem with the whole 30 being the magic number thing (partly because I'm 29). Most people get it from the premiership footballers who start getting the "he doesn't have the legs he used to" comments the day they turn 30.

It may be due to the stress on joints more than anything, footballers tend to have their knees go and rugby players just seem to get worn out from being smashed over and over.The thing about it is the ability of athletes from other sports/cultures to perform and improve into their 30's.

Linford Christie, John Hayes, Shaquile O'Neal and countless other basketball players spring to mind as well as this bloke from my sport of choice. 49 and getting into the record tables! Christie was never a force until he got into his 30's, may be down to him getting some d-bol for his 30th b'day but anyway.

I think sportspeople who slump badly in their early 30's really have to call into question how they have been looking after themselves or the ability of the team or club to look after them.

cardio,shoot me

dont forget bodybuilding, alot of competitors dont peak till 35-40 even as late as 45 i think