50 the new barrier in pro sports

50 The New Barrier in Pro Sports

By Andrew Stuart

Spoiler Alert the Barrier has been Smashed

"How old would you be if you didn't know how old you were" — Satchel Paige

Satchel Paige pitched a no-hitter for the Kansas City Athletics at age 59 (possibly up to 65) in 1965. In that era, athletes competing professionally past 40 was rare, with few exceptions including Gordie Howe (NHL, playing from age 40 to 52), George Blanda (Oakland Raiders, NFL), and Willie Mays (MLB, age 42). Contrast this with modern times: as of 2015 there are significantly more athletes excelling over 40.

Early modern barrier-breakers included Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (still elite in the NBA at 43) and George Foreman (heavyweight champion of the world at 45).

Michael Jordan at age 40: in a game vs. New Jersey (Feb. 21, 2003) he shot 18/30 from the field, 7/8 free throws, with 10 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 assists and a block; in another game he scored 45 points on 18/33 shooting with 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 1 block and 1 steal in 44 minutes; his season averages were 23.0 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.8 assists.

"One day you might look up and see me playing a game at 50. Don't laugh. Never say never, because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion." — Michael Jordan, Hall of Fame speech

Jeannie Longo won the French national cycling championship at age 51. At the X-Games, Jamie Bestwick (42) completed a nine-peat in BMX Vert — the first ever at the X-Games — alongside fellow medalists Simon Tabron (40, silver) and Dennis McCoy (47, bronze): the first podium sweep of all 40-plus athletes in the X-Games' 20-year history.

Bernard Hopkins

Age 51, boxer. Lost his IBF & WBA Super light heavyweight titles to Sergey Kovalev at age 49 in a 12 round decision after holding the titles for 3 years. One of the fittest and quickest men in the world. (Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bhopdaalien/)

Mark Felix

Age 51, strongman — one of the strongest men in the world, who smashes societies and the negative media's thoughts that you can't excel as a pro Athlete after 50. (Profile: http://www.theworldsstrongestman.com/athletes/mark-felix/)

Julio Franco

Age 57, playing baseball professionally in Japan. "It won't be the last home run I hit. I want to hit one when I'm 60. God gave me the great gift to play the game of baseball, and I want to play until I'm 60. If he gives me two more years, don't you think he's going to give me another one?"

Ned Overend

Age 61, professional mountain biker and elite racer. Won the National Fat Bike Championship at age 59 against professionals half his age. "Why should you decline performance just because you reach a certain number, it's when you start thinking that way you will"

Butch Hayes

Age 54, professional basketball player in Australia — competition should be merit-based, not decided by age.

Masahiro Yamamoto

Age 51, professional baseball pitcher in Japan (as of 2016).

Hubertus Von Hohenlohe

In his mid 50's and still one of the best slalom skiers in the world as of 2016; in the last two Winter Olympics he has been the only one to qualify for the Mexican Olympic team.

Kazuyoshi Miura

Still playing professional football in Japan. (Video of his 2016 goal: https://www.youtube.com/embed/0HVSrzx5I4s)

Rodney Mullen

Age 51, one of the best freestyle skaters in the world — his latest skate video, completed in 2016, features new tricks that no one has done before. (Video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/-3tDvMG87Ro)

Lance Mountain

Pro pool skater — still skating professionally at 55 and continuing to dominate the pool scene.

Hershall Walker

Age 55, one of the fittest guys in the world. Does 1500+ push-ups and 2000+ sit-ups daily and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.40 seconds — faster than most current NFL players. Currently a professional MMA fighter, undefeated with fights planned. Reportedly offered an NFL tryout in 2015, declined due to fighting commitments.

Merlene Ottey

Still competing for Slovenia in open athletics — you cannot write her off until she has officially retired. National champion at age 53 with an 11 second 100m sprint.

Jeannie Longo

Professional cyclist, age 58. Won the French Nationals at age 52.

Meghan Arbogast

Age 52, professional ultra runner and massage therapist from Corvallis, Oregon. Won the Way Too Cool 50K, defeating 29-year-old Rory Bosio in the final mile.

Dennis McCoy

Age 50, BMX Vert athlete coming off a great 2015 season.

Lex Nederlof

Age 50, professional cycling tour athlete. His max heart rate is unchanged from the start of his career and his VO2 levels remain superior — one of the nicest and cleanest athletes on the tour.

Donna Vano

Age 63, professional snowboarder.

Tony Alva

Age 59, professional pool skater (as of 2015). (Video: https://www.youtube.com/embed/WxRZe_1RILo)

Dean Karnazes

Age 55, one of the best ultra marathon runners in the world by far.

Connie Gardner

Age 54, international ultra marathon runner.

Other Recently retired Athletes who show 50 is the new Barrier being broken

Nancy Lieberman

On July 24, 2008, at 50 years old, Lieberman signed a seven-day contract with the Detroit Shock. She played well and at training, as an assistant coach, was still one of the best players in the team.

Jamie Moyer

Finished his MLB career at 50 while still being one of the best pitchers in the league when he played — if not for an elbow injury he would probably still be playing.

Jonathan Matthews

At 56, nearly missed the 20km American racewalk team for the 2012 London Olympics. Started race walking at age 36, won the nationals, paused the sport around 2000 for family, and resumed serious training at age 50. "I decided it might be fun and good for my health to try to get back in shape. Age means nothing, if you are good enough you are good enough, simple"

Haile Satayin

At 49 years and 141 days, competing on behalf of Israel at the 2004 Summer Olympics in the Marathon, he was the oldest track and field athlete at those Games. At 53 years and 136 days, he competed for Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. At 57 his marathon times were reportedly still good enough to qualify for the 2012 Olympics.

Aleksandr Lukyanov

Age 51 in professional rowing. Competed in the Sydney 2000 Olympics and was still one of the best in the world when he competed.

Valentina Khokhlova

Professional rower (entry appears alongside Aleksandr Lukyanov on the original page).

Evander Holyfield

Won his last fight at age 50.

Dewey Bozella

Won his professional boxing debut at age 52 after serving 28 years in prison, wrongly convicted of murder.

Robert Jaworski

Probably the modern pioneer for breaking the 50 year old pro athlete barrier — averaged over 20 points per game in professional basketball at age 52 before retiring in 1998.

Closing

With improved fitness, nutrition, modern sports science and mental mindset, 40 should be considered the new 30. Athletes previously retired based on age expectations rather than actual ability or desire, often retiring prematurely.

"If your still good enough you are still good enough, age should not stop you, it should be up to the person who wants to take your spot on merit not because you turned a certain number"

Rich Roll, named one of the fittest men on the planet, became a professional athlete at age 45 and at 51 competes in ultra marathons and ultra triathlons.