Science helps older athletes stay in game

Long

Dara Torres, an Olympic swimmer, seems to be defying all the rules concerning age, exercise, sport and performance.

How does she do it? An old saying states, "Whether you think you can or think you can't, you are right." Torres obviously believes in herself and psychology is just as important as anatomy and physiology in any sport.

In addition, Torres possesses excellent genetics, allowing her to use and train her body to the best of her ability. Exercise physiology, sports medicine and nutrition have helped athletes compete longer and longer in these contemporary times as well.

The science of training has never been more advanced and the United States is a leader and innovator in using the proper methodology of training for each athlete in each of the various sports of the Olympics. Torres is famous also for her tenacity in the gym and in the pool when training.

Have you seen the TV clips of her training? To say that she trains hard would be the understatement of the year. Other athletes have done well years beyond their prime too.

Satchel Paige played professional baseball at 59 years of age. George "The Fossil" Blanda played professional football for years, retiring at age 48.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar played professional basketball until age 42. Jimmy Connors played professional tennis until age 39. And lastly, who could forget the great George Foreman, who beat Michael Moorer for the International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Association championship at age 45?

The thought of what a person can do at what age has changed. Here in Mississippi we have many excellent athletes participating in sports at an older age. Clintonian Jeff Finch, 48, and Bruce Alt, 50, both regularly compete in running events, cycling events and triathlons. Peter Casano, 46, a Jackson physician, is a regular at Gracie South Jiu Jitsu in Flowood, and I can tell you from personal experience he is an excellent fighter.

Archeologist Jim Lauro of Madison is a former powerlifting judge, coach and competitor. Lauro is currently in the best shape of his life at age 58 and spends 14 hours a week in training utilizing both cardio and weights. I'm no youngster either.

At age 43 I still workout hard five to six days per week. Just a couple of weeks ago, I was coming out of Butts Park after a 30-minute jog during the heat of the mid-day feeling all good about myself, my age and my accomplishment. That quickly ended however, when 73-year-old pastor Charles Finch of Clinton passed me on his one-hour run.

Scot E. Long, MSS, CSCS, is an exercise physiologist. He also is a doctoral candidate at the University of Southern Mississippi and full-time professor at Mississippi College.