who are the best athletes that came into their own in their late 20s or even 30s, maybe didn't take up athletics until unusually late and got to the top? at least maybe someone had some link to a good article about that? any long jumpers in there?
who are the best athletes that came into their own in their late 20s or even 30s, maybe didn't take up athletics until unusually late and got to the top? at least maybe someone had some link to a good article about that? any long jumpers in there?
Why and how in the F' would someone get into long jumping in their late 20's?
inspired watching others like many normal people regardless of age, or some other ways, I don't know. does anyone have examples?
Steve Way started with 33 as 100 kg (220 pounds) monster. He got 14:41/1:06/2:15
Jack Foster started with 32 and got 28:45/2:11
Priscilla Welch started with 35 as chain smoker and got 2:26 and Olympics.
A newer, although not fully late-bloomer case is Roberta Groner, who was a decent, but not out-of-this-world HS and college runner, then took a 10-year break and now killed it in the World Championship marathon in her 40s. After just 1-2 years she was running very fast times (after 10 years of doing absolutely NOTHING), her debut marathon was already a 3:12 on very limited training.
Starting late in life is not that big of a disadvantage in long distance events. Our brain knows how to remodel our bones, muscle fibers, heart and get us probably within 0.5-1% of the absolute maximum level you could achieve in the marathon. Also, IF you have talent you will also have it after doing nothing for 10 years.
Not sure about a highly technical, fast-twitch event like LJ.
yeah definitely, that's why I was wondering. heard about 60+ year olds or whatever still doing sub20 5k.
de grasse supposedly was some amateur off the street a few years ago, and apparently unusually quickly went to very very good or is that exaggerated?