Are professional athletes getting older?

In recent times, it appears that athletes competing at the highest level are getting older. For example, at age 41, Portugal defender Pepe became the oldest player to play at a European Championship. Several other players in their late 30s also appeared at Euro 2024, including Ronaldo (39), Modric (38), and Navas (38). 

In tennis, Roger Federer won the 2018 Australian Open (age 37), as did Serena Williams in 2017 (age 35). At 36, Rafa Nadal became the oldest player to win the French Open in 2020. Notable examples from US sports include Tom Brady (38), who won his 7th Superbowl in 2021, and Lebron James (39), who won the inaugural NBA Cup in 2023 with the LA Lakers. Alongside being the most successful athletes in American Football (Brady) and Basketball (James), they are also widely considered among the greatest athletes of all time. 

The examples above suggest that professional athletes are getting older and winning major competitions later in their careers. However, the question is are these athletes outliers, or do they represent a wider trend in professional sport? To answer this question, recent studies have analysed the average age of professional athletes from selected sports over several decades. 

Olympic athletes

A study by the Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research (CEPAR) analysed the age at which athletes compete at their best and how the average age has changed. The average age of male Olympians increased from 25 to 27 and female ages increased from 24 to 26 between 1992 and 2021. 

As you would expect, the average ages of athletes differ by sport. Athletes in sports relying on speed, power, and flexibility had the lowest average ages, with 23 years for men and 22 for women. Tactical and precision sports with lower physical demands (e.g., sailing and equestrian sports) had the oldest ages. For example, the median age for equestrians was 35 for women and 38 for men. 

Tennis 

Between 1991 and 2021, the average age of the top 100 male and female tennis players increased by 4 years. The average age has risen from 24 to 28 in men and from 22 to 26 in women. 

Football (soccer) 

A study of UEFA Champions League players from 1992-2018 reported a significant increase (>1.6 years) from 24.9 to 26.5 years. 

Cricket

Between 1980 and 2020 the median age of cricketers has remained more stable than other sports, decreasing by one year from 29 to 28 years among batsmen and bowlers.

Summary

There is evidence that professional athletes in many sports are getting older. Several factors contribute to this trend, including advances in sports medicine, training, and recovery strategies. Incentives such as financial rewards and breaking records may also motivate athletes to keep competing.