Do most 800m-3000m athletes all hit their peak around 24-26 years old? So they can run well and have solid performances for the rest of their career but never again reach the dizzying heights that they once did?
I mean it fits for a lot of cases. El Guerrouj peaked in 1998/1999 but was good enough to stick around for a few more years and hold off Lagat in 2004 to win gold. Morceli peaked even younger, winning the world championships at 21,23 and 25, the Olympics at 26 and then not much else. Cram peaked in 1985 and was unbeatable at the age of 25 as well, and was never really the same afterwards. Steve Scott peaked in 82 and ran 3:47 at the age of 26. Ovett peaked around 1980 at the age of 25. Coe peaked in 1981 at the age of 25, but still ran well for 5+ years afterward. Rui Silva peaked in 2002 at the age of 25. Lagat peaked in 2001 running 3:26 at the age of 27. Baala peaked in '02/'03 at the age of 24/25. Mottram peaked around 2006 at the age of 26, give or take a year. Ivan Heshko peaked in 2004 at the age of 25. Abdi Bile peaked in 87 at the age of 25. Haile peaked at 5000m around 97/98 at the age of 24/25. Komen peaked even younger at 21. Kipchoge won the world championships in an upset at 19, ran 12:46 a year later. Songok ran 12:48 at 22 and Sihine peaked with a 12:47 at 21. Salah Hissou peaked at 24. Shaheen probably peaked in 06 at the age of 24. Bob Kennedy ran his 12:58 AR at the age of 26. Tegenkamps 13:04 was 3 years ago at the age of 24. Two strange ones: Cruz peaked in 84 at the age of 21 but Kipketer peaked in 97 at the age of 27. The rest fit though: Bucher peaked in '01 at the age of 25, Gray peaked in 85 at the age of 25, Rodal peaked in Atlanta at 24, Sepeng peaked in 99 at the age of 25, Juanterena peaked in Montreal at the age of 26.
Get the picture?