Venus Williams, LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo elite athletes are extending their careers into their 40s. How?

"At this year's US Open, when 45-year-old tennis great Venus Williams stepped on to the court to play in doubles, it was alongside a teammate who wasn't even born when Williams won gold in the singles at the Sydney Olympics. Given that the peak performance age for a tennis player has traditionally been considered to be around the mid-20s, it was an extraordinary feat to be competing at a major, but Williams' exceptional extension of her athletic career is increasingly common."

"These achievements are astounding because at an age when most ordinary mortals are starting to feel the effects of declining muscle mass, reaction times, cognition and stamina, these elite athletes are still performing extraordinary physical feats that put incredible pressure and stress on their ageing bodies. Furthermore, they are doing so in a sporting environment that has continued to push the boundaries of what the unenhanced body can achieve, well beyond what was thought possible, or even safe, just a few decades ago."

"So what does it take to be able to keep leaping about a court or charging down a field at an age when many other elite athletes have called it a day and when most non-athletes are happy if they don't slip over in the shower? LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers takes a shot during a basketball match in 2024. Photograph: Harry How/Getty Images The extraordinary longevity of these elite athletes is down to a mix of genetics, environment and lifestyle, according to as"

Venus Williams competed in doubles at age 45 alongside a teammate born after her Sydney Olympic singles gold, exemplifying extended elite athletic careers. LeBron James became the first NBA player to span a career from his teens into his 40s, while Lauren Jackson competed in a fifth Olympics at 43. Oksana Chusovitina aims for a ninth Olympics at 50, and Kazuyoshi Miura plays elite football at 58. These athletes perform despite age-related declines in muscle mass, reaction time, cognition, and stamina. Modern sporting environments and training have pushed the unenhanced body's capabilities. Longevity results from genetics, environment, and lifestyle.

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