Track & Field Fetchies
55 watchers
Aug 2022
10:01am, 18 Aug 2022
20,190 posts
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Sharkie
Ottey sprang to mind for me. The boundaries are being pushed all the the time but 35 seems about the current limit. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce is 35, as I'm sure you all know. There's a limit to how long you can continue to PB at various events - obviously improvement depends on when you start. |
Aug 2022
10:02am, 18 Aug 2022
37,975 posts
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SPR
Merlene Ottey is a good find.
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Aug 2022
10:04am, 18 Aug 2022
20,191 posts
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Sharkie
I'm nearly 70 and although I didn't start athletics training until my mid 50s, my sprint PBs are a thing of the past. I can still improve throws and possibly jumps, started later and with throws from a VERY low start point! |
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Aug 2022
10:07am, 18 Aug 2022
37,976 posts
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SPR
I wouldn't say 35 is a limit, we wouldn't expect SAFP to drop off a cliff next year for example and she's right at the top now.
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Aug 2022
10:10am, 18 Aug 2022
37,977 posts
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SPR
They do say speed goes before endurance which makes SAFP more remarkable. She could drop a couple of tenths and still be competitive for a medal.
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Aug 2022
10:12am, 18 Aug 2022
20,193 posts
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Sharkie
I really hope that is the case, SPR. She is genuinely inspiring. See also Serena Williams.
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Aug 2022
10:14am, 18 Aug 2022
20,194 posts
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Sharkie
I should have been less precise... should have written 'SEEMS like mid 30s is the current limit but boundaries are being pushed all the time, see SAFP' 
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Aug 2022
10:30am, 18 Aug 2022
37,978 posts
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SPR
Lol Sharkie. I can't imagine SAFP will show us what the limit is for being amongst the best as I imagine she will stop after the next Olympics (I'm assuming she will still be up there by then) and I also don't think she just wants to make top 8 which she potentially could for a while yet. Serena indeed. My instinct makes me think that in some sports the skill element can allow athletes to go on for longer than pure athletics as it can hide a relative decline. Obviously athletics has skill but you can't hide from the stopwatch. Serena is visibly still a great athlete but she's also likely inspired those she now competes against to be great athletes. I imagine for the older athlete, staying fit is very important as climbing the hill again can be tough. |
Aug 2022
11:01am, 18 Aug 2022
18,032 posts
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rf_fozzy
Training, scientific data around nutrition etc and simply understanding how an ageing body works have all increased dramatically in the last 20 years. And in women, I don't think we know anything regarding when age-related decline works in high performance athletes. There's not enough data because even recently it just didn't happen. Plus all the sexism. And in the end everyone is different anyway with different physiology and different motivations. |
Aug 2022
5:03pm, 19 Aug 2022
4,345 posts
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J2R
Certainly since I turned 60, I've started to be less optimistic about winning any Olympic golds.
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