Athletic Prime?

Triathlon Forum
1

Is there any research concerning at what age athletes generally reach their athletic prime?

I’ve heard that male athletes tend to peak in their 30s (I can’t remember the age for women), but I have also heard that all athletes plateau after seven years of endurance training. That said, I know an athlete who is faster now, at 44, than he was in his 20s. I realize there are always exceptions to any average, but for the sake of discussion, what does the research say?

Thanks

2

Tudor Bompa has written some about it in the book “Training Periodization”. And of course optimal age differ in different sports.

3

low 20s for swimming
28-30 for marathon

tri ?

4

27 for baseball

Is there any research concerning at what age athletes generally reach their athletic prime?

I’ve heard that male athletes tend to peak in their 30s (I can’t remember the age for women), but I have also heard that all athletes plateau after seven years of endurance training. That said, I know an athlete who is faster now, at 44, than he was in his 20s. I realize there are always exceptions to any average, but for the sake of discussion, what does the research say?

Thanks

5

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I realize the optimal age differs depending upon the sport. I should clarify: I’m thinking of endurance sports, not just any athletic endeavor. But “endurance” is a pretty vague term as well, so perhaps I’m just thinking of the marathon.

I’ll check out that book.

6

Where’d you get these ages?

7

the marathon age, an elite runner friend (2:22 marathoner), who is 28 and says so

swim age - Gold in the Water

ok, not the best sources but I think they’re pretty reliable.

8

not factoring burnout or injury - 35-39
.

9

I think with more and more swimmers being true professional athletes, we are seeing that swimming prime age is much older than early 20s. In the past, you turned 22, graduated college, and that was the end of your career. Guys simply didn’t train as much into their 20s and 30s. Now, we’re seeing some really fast swims from guys in their late 20s and 30s.

10

Dave Scott took 2nd at 42 years old I think…Carlos Lopes set the marathon WR at age 39, Joe Bonness got very, very fast compared to his younger years when he hit his upper 40’s, it could be possible endurance decline can be offset by consistent & healthy training/living. Not sure of the % decline per year though. Ekimov was still a world class rider at 40, Thomas Wassburg (xc skier) was creeping up on 40 and still a world class level skier–likely there are plenty of examples that defy the norm of what “studies” show as “prime” age for endurance athletes.