At the recent Winter Olympics, athletes Kjeld Nuis, Jorrit Bergsma, and Francesca Lollobrigida demonstrated notable performances beyond the typical peak ages in their sports.
According to RTL Nieuws, Nuis, aged 36, secured a medal in the explosive 1500-meter speed skating event, while Bergsma, who turned 40 shortly before winning bronze in the 10,000 meters, became the oldest Dutch athlete to medal at the Winter Games. The Italian Lollobrigida claimed gold on her 35th birthday, surprising many observers.
Marije Elferink-Gemser, a university lecturer in movement sciences at UMCG/RUG, explained that peak athletic performance varies by individual and sport, influenced by factors including body composition, physiology, technique, cognition, and mental resilience. Research indicates that peak performance tends to occur at older ages in endurance events, whereas shorter, explosive sports favor younger athletes, typically in their twenties. This context highlights the significance of Nuis’s medal at age 36 in a sprint-like event.
Sport physician and exercise physiologist Guido Vroemen noted that these athletes’ consistent presence at the elite level is the product of long-term training and dedication. He pointed out that natural declines in muscle mass and strength beginning around age 30 require greater efforts to maintain performance. In Nuis’s case, being able to effectively engage multiple energy systems, particularly anaerobic reserves, requires years of specific, intensive interval training and considerable commitment.
Elferink-Gemser also emphasized that more experienced athletes often better understand their strengths, training needs, and how to optimize preparation for peak performance. Veteran competitors like Lollobrigida and bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor, who returned to competition after motherhood, often adopt personalized training approaches rather than standard programs, reflecting greater self-awareness and strategic decision-making.
Vroemen underscored the importance of intrinsic motivation and mental fortitude in achieving high-level results later in an athletic career. While exceptional, these performances demonstrate that with optimal physical maintenance and dedication, athletes can remain competitive beyond conventional peak ages. The coverage also highlighted the broader context of Lollobrigida’s circumstances, including her recent motherhood, which added to the interest in her achievements.
