“…to just keep playing as long as I can…”

The Age-defying Athletes Project (ADAP) researches and writes about adults who play sports in later life.

One-to-one interviews with athletes cover the game selection decision, preparation, playing experience, benefits, self-discoveries, surprises, injuries, and more.

Interviewees are also queried on their game goals. Some respond in terms of the sport itself. For example, a golfer may answer that he wants to “always play bogey golf”. Or, a tennis player may say that she would like to achieve an NTRP (National Tennis Rating Program) level 4.0.

But many simply note that they “…would like to keep playing as long as I can…” Mona, an 83-year-old tennis player reflects this attitude: “Don’t want to quit. I like to play. I like the ladies with whom I play and plan to play until I am 95.”

Roger Federer

Long playing “careers” are definitely advantages that older athletes enjoy.

But what about professional athletes? Does longevity matter to them? Or is it more a matter of “making hay while the sun shines?”

Longevity is interesting to consider in light of Roger Federer’s 2022 retirement from professional tennis at age 40. (An age when he would not even qualify to be an Age-denying Athlete!)

The documentary, Final Twelve Days, is a bittersweet (and sometimes cloyingly sweet) portrait of the final dozen days of Federer’s pro career, culminating in the 2022 Laver Cup. (That link is for Amazon Prime, but the video is available through other services, too.)

Federer well deserves his rank, respect, fortune, and fame. Some of the clips from his early career – such as a through-the-legs backward return of a lob that manages to land in a corner unreachable by his opponent – are astonishing.

But the body knows what the body knows, and Federer was forced to retire due to a knee that refused to cooperate with various care plans.

Like many Age-defying Athletes, Federer attempted at first to ignore the pain and limitation and just keep playing.

When that didn’t work, there was surgery, rehab, slow return to the game.

And when that didn’t work, retirement – complete with its salutes and heartaches.

What’s next?

I’m confident Federer will continue to play tennis and participate in various events. And for all I know, his next act will be to build a successful enterprise around his new “RF” brand.

But how will he change his game to fit his new reality? Can he come to grips about playing in a physically “reduced” state? Will he hesitate to go after shots lest he risk further injury? Will his confidence slip? Can he still stare down competitors?

And what about those competitors? Will they “take it easy” with him post-retirement? Or will they be out for revenge for past losses to Federer?

The fans? Will their expectations be realistic? If they still idolize him, how does this affect his game face and mental state? Or will they abandon him for younger, more agile, more skilled players?

Tiger Woods

Contrast Federer with Tiger Woods. Eight years older than Roger (and also too young for Age-defying Athlete status!), Tiger is still competing on the pro tour. Sometimes he makes the cut, and sometimes – heart-rendingly in the 2024 British Open – he does not.

Woods has stated that he intends to continue competing professionally until he reaches age 60.

So, the Federer “clean break” vs. the Woods “messy unwinding”? Both approaches have their pros and cons.

Certainly, the Woods’ strategy is closer to the ADAP philosophy to “keep playing as long as I can”. But it’s likely that Tiger’s continued play is a default position, whereas Age-defying Athletes make a conscious choice – a deliberate trade-off that lands these geezer gamers squarely in the position from which they can continue something they love, something that renews them.

Isn’t renewal what it’s all about?

Being a professional athlete is exciting and glamorous and something many, many would love to achieve.

On the other hand, being an amateur athlete (good, bad, or indifferent) promises a long and dependable (shall we say less risky?) pathway to enjoyment and rejuvenation.

How difficult will it be for either the “clean break” or the “messy unwinding” professionals to achieve enjoyment and renewal? And will it take them until they quality for Age-defying Athlete status to do so?

What do you think? Early success or a long lifetime of fun, friendship, and fitness? Because everyone trades off one destiny for the other…

WIIFY

If you are currently participating in a sport in your second life chapter, bravo. You already have the longevity secret, which heroes such as Roger and Tiger still have to discover.

Yes, they were bright shooting stars that left us in awe. But Age-defying Athletes shine brilliantly and steadily all the time in the firmament.

If you are not currently participating, think about starting. You can control your game destiny for the rest of your life.

Federer and Woods can aim for the same thing, but they will have to navigate around the experience of stardom before they can step onto that longevity path.