26 athletes who competed into their 40s

Stephane Cardinale – Corbis // Corbis via Getty Images Humans reach their physical peak in their mid-20s, with maximum physical strength and muscle mass continuing for the next 10 to 15 years. After that, the long and gradually steepening performance curve heads in the other direction. But some athletes–including a high proportion of the very best–seem to stop the aging process in its tracks, performing at an elite level well into their 30s, 40s, or even 50s. Tom “the GOAT” Brady competed 23 seasons before the three-time MVP announced his official retirement from the NFL (for a second time) at 45 in February 2023. Satchel Paige remarkably played Major League Baseball until he was 59. But most, taking full advantage of advances in training and sports medicine, played well into this century or are still active today. These include some of the biggest names in sports: Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in golf and, of course, the Williams sisters, tennis stars Venus and Serena, albeit the latter has decided to “evolve away” from the sport since August 2022. Stacker dug deep on stat sites like Stathead and Olympedia to showcase the 25 best in chronological order. We found there are only five active MLB players and–following Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Los Angeles Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth’s retirements–only four active NFL players over 40 headed in the 2022 season: offensive tackle Jason Peters, punters Dustin Colquitt and Andy Lee, and Tom Brady. Looking for inspiration to stay fit and competitive as you age? Check out our list. You may also like: History of the NFL from the year you were born Babe Didrikson Zaharias Underwood Archives // Getty Images – Sport: Golf – Years active: 1947-1955 – Age at retirement: 43 There was another “Babe” besides “Babe” Ruth thriving in the sports world in the 20th century. Ruth’s nickname was “the Sultan of Swat,” but Zaharias (nickname: “the Babe”) could also swat a ball a long way–a golf ball, that is. While Ruth famously starred as a pitcher and home-run hitter, Zaharias was even more versatile.  Zaharias won track-and-field gold medals at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics and proved herself as a dominant women’s baseball and basketball player. But the native Texan left her biggest mark in golf as she was a co-founder and longtime star on the LPGA circuit. She won her 41st and final LPGA title in 1955 at age 43. She might have won many more, but colon cancer ended her unparalleled sports career: She died in 1956. Satchel Paige