When does a sprinter reach his peak?

Calm down dude, he's 33.

Maybe he would have run 9.6 at age 26 if he were allowed to compete at that time.

Kim Collins set his 9.96 PB at age 38 last year.

Like I said, calm down.

Maybe having 4 years of no competition in his late twenties extended his peak.

Michael Johnson was 32 when he set his 400m PR/WR.

Carl Lewis PRed at age 30.

They will tend to peak when bone mass peaks, which is usually around 23-25.

24

It's a fact.

Rocky of Running wrote:

I felt compelled to comment here, having read the arguments on just when a sprinter should reach his peak. Notably, Justin Gatlin is debated for his 9.80 100 meters performance at age 30. Most great sprinters do seem to peak at age 29 or 30, so Gatlin should be given a free pass for that, despite his dubious doping history. But just last week - at age 34 - Gatlin lowered his PB to 9.74. I repeat, that's 9.74 at 34 years OLD. It seems the leopard, indeed, cannot change its spots. What a sad commentary on Track and Field that this farce is allowed to continue.

Most of the sprint world records were set by athletes in their late 20s. Perhaps Gatlin is not at his peak, perhaps he will never get back to what he could have run in his late 20s. (Another way of thinking about it.)

Do you REALLY-REALLY-REALLY believe after having everything taken away from him, being broken to a state of near clinical depression, he would be doping again? Do you REALLY-REALLY-REALLY believe Gatlin is that scandalous, morally deprived and more importantly stupid? After watching athletes the last couple of years get busted left and right, having a solid BP on file and his life being under an electron microscope...again, do you REALLY-REALLY-REALLY think Gatlin is that stupid. Sprint times have been declining over that last couple of years, Gatlin is the only one getting better; perhaps you think Gatlin is doing something that no one else in the world knows about. Do you REALLY-REALLY-REALLY think Gatlin is that smart? (Personally, I don't believe George Bush ordered the plans that flew into the World Trade Towers.)

-Or perhaps, you REALLY-REALLY-REALLY believe a 'human being' can benefit from a chemical that was in his system a decade ago. Basic biology, physiology and pharmacology and anyone who knows about doping will tell you that's unequivocally not possible. I don't care about what some hypothesis an attention seeking scientist came up with, every ex-doper I know of in every sport, lost muscle mass and started to decline within months of getting off of PEDs and most of them struggle to get back to their pre-doping performances. Please provide me with one example of an ex-doper coming back to his sport and performing better clean. It is absolutely understandable to have feelings against Gatlin for has past misdeeds and it's also understandable for people to feel Gatlin accepted his punishment, is redeemed and be amazed at what he is currently accomplishing. But, don't buy into the noise that Gatlin is this purely evil and diabolical mastermind and what he is accomplishing can't possibly be done fairly.

Some people have anger issues.....

There is no such thing as a universal age peak

You're a Tool! wrote:

Some people have anger issues.....

I am not angry about anything.

Ben Johnson was caught three times. I think all these guys know what it takes to be at the top - look at how Memo Heredia laughed at the notion the Beijing 100m final had a single clean runner.

Of course he is doping... It's not even a question.

So did Carl Lewis.

So did Michael Johnson.

So did Kim Collins.

And so do 90-95% of the people who run under 10 consistently.

TrackCoach wrote:

Do you REALLY-REALLY-REALLY believe after having everything taken away from him, being broken to a state of near clinical depression, he would be doping again?

Yes. There's nothing to make me think that a case of mild depression would stop a cheater from cheating.

TrackCoach wrote:

Do you REALLY-REALLY-REALLY believe Gatlin is that scandalous, morally deprived and more importantly stupid?

Again, yes. Lance Armstrong.

He has forever lost the benefit of the doubt. Should have been banned for life.