Source: WCCO – CBS Minnesota
Lindsey Vonn, at the age of 40 years old, has decided to return to the United States Ski Team after 5 years of retirement. We have seen this move before with Tom Brady as well as seen athlete continue their careers well past their supposed prime.
In her book, Age Is Just A Number, Dara Torres expresses the thought that one can still compete on a highly competitive level well past what most people consider an athlete to be past his prime. Prime years for an athlete ranges from 25 to 30 years old. At age 41, Torres shattered that notion when she won two silver medals in the 2008 Olympics in swimming.
Nowadays, more athletes are competing successfully past their prime shattering the idea many in society have regarding an older athlete as being “long in the tooth.” Prime in ice hockey is around 28 years old, but Martin St. Louis retired when he was 40 years old. St. Louis former teammate, Dan Boyle*, played until the age of 39, and Jaromir Jagr*, 44, is also still playing and has stated he wants to continue his NHL career until he’s 50. Jagr is no longer playing in the National Hockey League, but he is an owner and player within the Czech Republic Hockey League. Then there is the legendary, “Mr. Hockey” aka Gordie Howe, who had the honor of playing with his sons, Marty and Mark, in the World Hockey Association before retiring a second time at the age of 52!
The prime age for American football players and NASCAR drivers is between 24-27 and 30-35 respectively . Yet, Richard Petty continued to drive in NASCAR races until he retired at the age of 55. Brett Favre, who often teases fans with a return as quarterback in the NFL, retired for a second time from the Minnesota Vikings. Favre was 41. At 40, Peyton Manning decided to leave quarterbacking the Denver Broncos after winning Super Bowl 50. Tom Brady repeatedly retired and unretired until this past season (we think ) at the age of 46.
Here’s to cheering on the old-er folks!