Some are built like diesel engines. Some are built like high revving Honda engines. Max heart rates are pretty much individualized and don't mean squat. I'm over 50yo and I can hit low 190's during VO2 max intervals.
Basically in the same ballpark.. Only 26 years old and I'm dying going past 170.. 174 is the highest I've seen during testing/racing, but my aerobic threshold was 148 and my anaerobic threshold was 167 which says more than just max. heart rate.
I'm 38 years-old. Lowest HR I've ever seen = 31bpm, Highest I've seen in 2 years = 174bpm. LTHR = 164bpm. Everyone on my mother's side has a very low HR.
A few years ago (at 54), I'd routinely max out at 174. While dealing with afib throughout 2017, I was hitting 220 in my sleep :( Post ablation, 168-170 seems to be the ceiling now... "I'm thinking of a number between 1 and 10, and I don't know why!"
I think the mega miles over the years lower max HR for lots of athletes. When I was 17 starting the sport I could hit 200, 10 years and 200 000km+ later, I haven't seen 180 in a year or two. Mid training cycle with some fatigue in the system 172 is near the limit. Professional Athlete: http://jordancheyne.wordpress.com/http://www.strava.com/athletes/145340
At 50 best I can see is low 170's. -Of course it's 'effing hard, it's IRONMAN! Team ZOOT ZOOT, QR, Garmin, HED Wheels, Zealios, FormSwim, Precision Hydration, Rudy Project
186 this month @ nearly 58 y/o (according to Garmin Connect). I got my annual physical this week. They are accustomed to seeing low-ish resting HR from me (50-ish). Monday? 41 bpm. Raised a few eyebrows. But I just passed a stress test/echo a month ago, so... All pretty individual/meaningless...