Lena Salmi from Finland is 68 and she skateboards every day

“Age is not an obstacle, just a limitation in the mind,” Jacqueline Joyner-Kersee, one of the world’s greatest track and field athletes, once said. And although the sport has a different opinion on the subject, more and more retirees are showing the results of the young. It seems like something to be proud of, but few people take their successes seriously. Why?

Is it ageism?

They say that the life of an athlete is short. And especially ageism – age discrimination – reinforces these words. The concept was coined by American psychiatrist Robert Butler in 1969, and the term is most often associated with the elderly. Aging with a “minus” sign is also considered in sports, where after 30-40 years old are usually not allowed.

For example, in competitive and contact sports – soccer, rugby, track and field – the honorable age is considered an obstacle. But there are many examples of athletes who set records even in later years. Ida Keeling (centenarian track and field athlete) started running at 67, and Ernestine Shepherd (bodybuilder) joined the gym at 56.

Yet some Olympic events have minimum age requirements because they are considered youth sports. The same approach works unspoken: when a 12-year-old participant in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics lost to a 39-year-old competitor in table tennis, people took her side.

In amateur sports, too, it’s not all that easy – even the younger ones are written off by default. I am glad that people of mature age can be found more and more often in the gym and on sports grounds. Some of them – it is immediately obvious – have a serious sporting past. It is easy to distinguish them by the formed (sometimes old-fashioned) technique of performing exercises, confident handling of sports equipment. Others are clearly beginners, but this does not embarrass them. And that’s great.

Another plus is that ageism doesn’t exist in all cultures. In Japan, China and Korea (which has the longest life expectancy in the world), age is associated with positive rather than negative characteristics. Generally, in these countries, older people are seen as strong authority figures. In some European countries, this is not a bad thing either. For example, in Finland, as the locals themselves say, everyone is equal.

So says Lena Salmi, a 68-year-old skateboarder who got up on a board at 57. At first, the ageing athlete was not taken seriously everywhere. But that didn’t stop her from gathering other enthusiasts around her and founding the Very Old Skateboarders community. How? Asked her personally.

68 years old, Helsinki, journalist, skateboarder,

Our skate club already has over 1000 followers. We have only one mission – to enjoy skateboarding. I myself come from a sporty family, which I am very happy about. Skateboarding became a part of my life when I saw guys on boards. They looked so happy that I wanted to try it too. We don’t have such problems with ageism in Finland, we are all equal (come and visit us). Yes, age discrimination exists, that’s a fact. And once I myself faced an unpleasant situation in a women’s sports camp for skateboarders. I had an intermediate level, but I was assigned to the elementary level, can you imagine? But I believe that age is not a hindrance to sports, go for it! At least try, and then your life will be much happier.

Maybe it’s something else?

It is believed that the peak of physical activity is in youth, and therefore the number of people who train decreases over the years. But that doesn’t mean that old people have no place in sport and that physical activity is only a privilege for the young. Some people give up exercise for other reasons.

MD, trailrunner, ultramarathoner

Firstly, for many people growing up and transition to adulthood coincide with peak social (family, social activities) and professional (work, career) load. In this case, there is no time or energy left for sports. Then it is not always possible to return to regular exercise – the usual way of life becomes quite different. Secondly, in adulthood there are factors that hinder sports. Among them are excessive body weight and chronic non-infectious diseases (arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, joint diseases). Thirdly, there are biologically driven changes in the body that make sporting activities less accessible. It is known that over the years there is a decrease in muscle mass. In the elderly, the main physical qualities – speed, strength, endurance, flexibility and agility – decrease.

According to Alexander, another obstacle is the barriers in people’s minds. Not everyone agrees that sport is for all ages. Such people, as a rule, are hindered by stereotypical behavior, fear of looking ridiculous in the eyes of others.

There is good news: the idea of developing and maintaining physical fitness at a young age is finding more and more adherents. This is noticeable both in Moscow with its 15 million population, and in Gus-Khrustalny, Vladimir region, where just over 50 thousand people live (the birthplace of Alexander Elkonin’s wife – editor’s note). Times are changing, and cheerful old people walking or running along park paths have ceased to surprise anyone.

It is clear that their results are far from world records. But compared to their inactive peers, they look much better and younger than their years. And physically they can afford much more than those who do not exercise.

Yuri Strofilov, the 2021 world marathon champion in the 55-60 age group, ran the London Marathon at the first sporting grade level. How many people from a random sample “off the street” can do that?

Why then does the problem still remain and what can be done?

We asked an expert in psychology and sport to answer this question.

psychologist, sports manager

Unlike other forms of discrimination, ageism is accepted without much comment or concern.

For example, we’ve all seen advertisements for anti-aging products. Imagine the uproar that would ensue if companies started selling anti-woman or anti-race products. Ageism is everywhere, but it is not challenged like racism or sexism. Moreover, it is the only form of prejudice we will all face if we live long enough.

Retirees often face discrimination when playing sports or dealing with fitness instructors simply because of their age. This, in turn, is a stress factor that can trigger a series of physiological reactions: high blood pressure, rapid heart rate, and high levels of stress-related hormones that, over time, affect health as well. It’s a vicious cycle.

Julia notes that it is crucial to create a space where everyone can exercise regardless of their physical limitations or age. Exercises are not just for healthy young people. They should be inclusive, with a focus on wellness and active lifestyles.

It’s true that as people age, they may experience a decline in flexibility, overall fitness, strength, endurance, and may have difficulty recovering from injuries. But we should not discount them. Our society has the power to create all the conditions to live happily, comfortably and well at any age.