Yes Roger lost today. And I was kinda rooting for Novak but I have ultimate respect for roger. So I was thinking about athletes in history who still were at the top of their sport at 38 years old. I know you guys are the best at this so Tom Brady came to mind with me. I know there have been a few really good baseball players at this age( but thats less and less now) so who else would be a great example of someone like Fed? And its probably not comparable because he is in an individual sport which makes it even more incredible. But I'm sure you guys have some good ones.
Athletes at the top of their sport at 38.
- Thread starter insideguy
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chimneysweep
Semi-Pro
The life expectency in all sports is different so it is a hard comparision. Brady is 42 now and still at the top, but that is football, where many are at the top until 40ish atleast.
Tiger in golf is back on top and 43, but that is a sport guys in their 50s are on top sometimes.
Brad Gushue in curling is 38, but again that is a sport guys in their 50s are on top sometimes.
Justin Gatlin in track and field is close to that age, and won the last 100 metres at Worlds, and is still winning European races, but he is a huge blatant drug cheat.
Tiger in golf is back on top and 43, but that is a sport guys in their 50s are on top sometimes.
Brad Gushue in curling is 38, but again that is a sport guys in their 50s are on top sometimes.
Justin Gatlin in track and field is close to that age, and won the last 100 metres at Worlds, and is still winning European races, but he is a huge blatant drug cheat.
Milehigh5280
Professional
Barry Bonds lol
No argument except for Brady. Many are not at the top until 40. In fact none are.
chimneysweep
Semi-Pro
I think there a lot of athletes that age or older still at or near the top but very few who are at or near the top in a sport the expected age is what it is in tennis, or lower.
I would need to go through sports and break them into different categories in that case. I think for the latter that makes both Federer and Serena unique in that they are at top still and making slam finals at 38, and in tennis, unlike many other sports, that is not common. I know a lot here hate her, but dont forget Serena is born a month apart form Roger and doing this too, both are doing something remarkable.
I would need to go through sports and break them into different categories in that case. I think for the latter that makes both Federer and Serena unique in that they are at top still and making slam finals at 38, and in tennis, unlike many other sports, that is not common. I know a lot here hate her, but dont forget Serena is born a month apart form Roger and doing this too, both are doing something remarkable.
Yea he don't count.
But there have been really good baseball players into their late 30s who were not juiced. Well I think anyway.chimneysweep
Semi-Pro
Well not a big football fan so I am probably off there. I thought many receivers or defensive players were atleast. Maybe not QBs so much. What age did Brett Favre and Dan Marino retire? Peyton won a last Super Bowl at 40 or older IIRC. So it isnt unheard of atleast.
And Jerry Rice, the GOAT of all positions (other than maybe Brady) was in his 40s when he retired, wasnt he.
Marcustre45
New User
Federer is doping, you have to be naive to think otherwise, nearly 38 and able to play 5 sets for nearly 5 hours straight, it isn't possible i'm afraid, it's nonsense.
No receivers are done early. Football has a very low life expectancy I think they lowest as far as a career. I mean there are some exceptions don't get me wrong. Jerry rice was pretty old but I don't think he was 40 and he wasn't top 10 in the sport at the time.
Il give ya that. And I know there are some crazy Olympic athletes who do well into their late 30s. I just don't know all the odd sports.
Maybe. But honestly they all could be doping right.
Marcustre45
New User
They almost certainly are, and the problem is not limited to tennis by any means.
Nope.
RVAtennisaddict
Professional
Gretsky played far later and better than most hockey players imo.
Hes is a great example a are other hockey players who played long. But Gretsky at 38 wasn't top 10 in the league.
Marcustre45
New User
And i hate to say it but i couldn't care less who is doping and who isn't anymore, what gets on my nerves is hearing and seeing people say without a hint of irony regarding the Wimbledon final for instance,- "Djokovic is a drugs cheat", "Federer lost to a doper".
So Federer at nearly 38 years old was able to take a "doper" to 5 sets over 5 hours whilst himself being clean?, wow.
To me it matters but like you I am not sure how much. I am a huge baseball fan. And doping was everywhere and probably still is. This is a weird subject. One thing my brother always asked me was if someone could make themselves 25 percent smarter with a drug wouldn't they do it? And really who can say no to that.
chimneysweep
Semi-Pro
I feel the same way. I only hate the drugs cheats when they are openly obnoxious and clearly are so juiced it badly affects their health like Bonds, Lance, and Flo Jo.
I think most elite athletes today take something sadly.
Zetty
Hall of Fame
Right Justin Gatlin...I don't think Fed wants that comparison lol.
Also, Brady and Woods are in much less physical conditions than a guy that runs around with quick bursts of speed for 5 hours.
Yea im not a golf guy. But what Brady is doing in his sport is freakish regardless. It aint normal
lol many sports fans are absolutely naive or ignorant on purpose, just look how they acted before Armstrong admitted doping and many Usain Bolt fans do the same, they believe a "clean" Bolt can destroy former cheaters like Gatlin, Powell, Gay or Ben Johnson (his time then) by drinking milk
There is a good chance every top athlete is doping these days, nothing to be shocked about
As for the topic though:
Muhammad Ali became a 3 time World Champion at age of 36 (despite obvious signs of his parkinson disease)
Michael Jordan was still the best Basketball player at age of 36 and won his last NBA title then
Michael Schumacher won his last World Champion title in the F1 at age of 35
George Foreman won the HW title in Boxing at age of 45
Evander Holyfield won his last HW title at nearly 50
and those are just the ones I remember
Jordan I will give. The boxing stuff does not really mean anything to me and the driving means even less. I know people will argue that but ok
C
Chadalina
Guest
Brady maybe greater than fed. Tiger is doper, dont care about him.
Jordan doesnt count, nba is like pro wrestling, entertainment more than sport due to "jordan rules".
Kelly Slater (the GOAT of surfing) won his 11th surfing world title at age 39 and still is to this day (47 years) competing at the elite level of the sport.
Daniel Cormier is a UFC/MMA heavyweight champion at 40 years old. I rank DC as a top 5 greatest MMA fighters of all time.
Daniel Cormier is a UFC/MMA heavyweight champion at 40 years old. I rank DC as a top 5 greatest MMA fighters of all time.
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chimneysweep
Semi-Pro
Back on topic this is the list of curent athletes 36 or older I compile:
Federer (nearly 38)
Serena (nearly 38)
Tiger Woods golf (42)
Lund Svindal alpine skiing (36)
Marit Bjoergen cross country skiing (39); IMO HUGE doper though
Justin Gatlin (37) sprinting; another huge doper
Tom Brady (42)
Drew Brees(40); nearly won first league MVP this year (like his 4th or 5th near miss, sucks since I love him)
Jan Frodeno ironman triathlon (38)
Mahe Drysdale rowing (40); although he competes irregularly so might be semi retired. He won another Olympic Gold at 38.
Ondre Synek rowing (37)
There are probably others. Those are the ones I know of now. There are probably a bunch of baseball but other than the Blue Jays I dont follow it at all.
Really the only one of those doing something remarkable for their sport are Brady, Brees, Federer, Serena, Drysdale. Bjoergen if she werent so doped she looked like a bodybuilding man.
Some recent ones:
Bjoerdalen the Biathlete great who retired as one of the top still at 43.
A Rod, although he is a pretty obvious doper.
Kobe Bryant (I think, not sure how long he was top 10 in the league)
Phil Mickelson
Barry Bonds (lol)
Federer (nearly 38)
Serena (nearly 38)
Tiger Woods golf (42)
Lund Svindal alpine skiing (36)
Marit Bjoergen cross country skiing (39); IMO HUGE doper though
Justin Gatlin (37) sprinting; another huge doper
Tom Brady (42)
Drew Brees(40); nearly won first league MVP this year (like his 4th or 5th near miss, sucks since I love him)
Jan Frodeno ironman triathlon (38)
Mahe Drysdale rowing (40); although he competes irregularly so might be semi retired. He won another Olympic Gold at 38.
Ondre Synek rowing (37)
There are probably others. Those are the ones I know of now. There are probably a bunch of baseball but other than the Blue Jays I dont follow it at all.
Really the only one of those doing something remarkable for their sport are Brady, Brees, Federer, Serena, Drysdale. Bjoergen if she werent so doped she looked like a bodybuilding man.
Some recent ones:
Bjoerdalen the Biathlete great who retired as one of the top still at 43.
A Rod, although he is a pretty obvious doper.
Kobe Bryant (I think, not sure how long he was top 10 in the league)
Phil Mickelson
Barry Bonds (lol)
I don't care about driving either but it's a damn physical and mental sport as well and boxing, well getting your head and body punched for 12 or back in the 70s 15 rounds gets you way more closer to death than tennis would ever be able to make you fall in the court
Yea and no disrespect to the fighting sports. But its just a different area to me. Its the arena. they operate in don't get me wrong. They prepare for something and go do it. But day to day sports are just a different animal. But congrats to those guys.
Sosuke Aizen
Rookie
Very few QBs make it to age 40 and are still effective/elite. Peyton Manning declined in an astonishing way just turning from 37 to 38. The ones who were great at 40 are only Favre and Brady and Brees has a chance but he too could have a sudden decline next season.
chimneysweep
Semi-Pro
I want Brees to finally win his first league MVP next year. This past season I think he was runner up for the 4th time or something. If there is a god it will happen.
chimneysweep
Semi-Pro
I consider driving except Formula One these days, since that is only about the car, unlike the other circuits. Lewis Hamilton is a nothing.
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