• Question: Why do athletes stop when they get to about 25?

    Asked by Sasha Lily to Peter on 13 Nov 2015.
    • Photo: Peter Francis

      Peter Francis answered on 13 Nov 2015:

      Depending on the sport some athletes continue until they are 40, like Ryan Giggs did for Manchester United. In general, muscle strength peaks between 18 – 35y which is usually the typical career span of high level sports men and women. Goalkeepers in football seem to be able to play until 40y but I imagine this is because there is less running around. Marathon runners can also perform close to age 40y because as we age our endurance muscle fibres are less affected by our strength/power muscle fibres.

Comments