At 45, Venus Williams competed in doubles at the US Open alongside a teammate born after her Sydney Olympic gold. Her longevity mirrors a growing trend among elite athletes extending careers into their 40s and beyond.
LeBron James became the first NBA player to compete from his teens into his 40s, while Australian basketballer Lauren Jackson played in her fifth Olympics at 43. Uzbek gymnast Oksana Chusovitina, 50, aims for a ninth Olympics, and Japanese footballer Kazuyoshi Miura still plays at 58.
These feats challenge traditional peak-performance ages, which for tennis was mid-20s. Experts attribute such longevity to genetics, environment, and lifestyle. Christina Ekegren, a physiotherapist at Monash University, notes that the Williams sisters benefited from high-level training from a young age, building a strong fitness base.
Ben Herde, a sports physiotherapist, emphasises smart ageing: strength training combats sarcopenia, the age-related muscle loss. Older athletes also adapt by choosing less demanding roles, such as moving from midfield to forward in football to reduce running.
Despite their resilience, older athletes face higher injury risks and slower recovery. Herde stresses the importance of adequate rest and recovery to sustain elite performance.
