No place is the evidence of these advances more plentiful than the world of athletics. It seems the ink in various record books scarcely has time to dry before they once again need to be re-written. Legendary feats that once appeared capable of withstanding the test of time are now routinely toppled.
For the most part, the progression of athletic achievement has been greeted with wonderment and praise. Cal Ripken waltzes past the attendance record of the Iron Horse, not to be stopped until he chooses to sit his own able body out. Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa slug past the all-time homerun mark, way past. Tiger Woods brings droves of new fans to golf by treating its record books like a doormat. The phrase "youngest ever" accompanies many of Tiger's accomplishments, causing us to marvel at how one can achieve so much so soon.
Impressive as the efforts of such early bloomers are, we are perhaps even more bowled over by the late bloomers who prove that age is nothing but a number. "Youngest ever" stars benefit from parents and trainers who prepare their superior genetics from early childhood to excel at whatever sport they take to. As for "oldest ever" athletes, in addition to the factors mentioned earlier in this article, we must include attributes such as pride, determination, will power, savvy, and discipline. These men and women pass through the prime of their lives only to find that contrary to logic and the deterioration experienced by those who came before them, it is unnecessary to retire because their gas tanks remain far from empty.
The American trials for the upcoming Olympic games in Sydney consisted of numerous participants well past the age they were supposed to have stopped competing by. Some of them came out of retirement upon realizing that their competitive fires were still burning and their bodies could still stand up to the rigors imposed by their sport. Others have been emulating the exploits of the Eveready Energizer bunny, still going and going and going, because they have remained at or near the top of their game. Some of these quests to conquer Father Time have been in vain, but many others have displayed the championship heart that is exemplified at the highest level of sport. These success stories showcase the nobler traits embodied by athletes and illustrate why they are, at least on occasion, worthy of the pedestals we place them on. They teach us to keep on believing that all things are possible no matter how long the odds.
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