Illustration by Francisco Caceres; Photography by Kevork Djansezian/AP Photo
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Web Exclusive…
Poll: Best 40+ Athlete Ever?
By Phil Hawken, July & August 2004
It’s one thing for pro athletes simply to remain active beyond age 40. But the athletes below actually thrived long after that point. Pick the best-ever 40+ athlete and see how your choice stacks up against other readers’ selections.
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George Blair (water skiing)
"Banana George" first learned to water ski barefoot at age 46. He has
entertained audiences for decades with his trademark yellow wetsuits, and
tricks such as eating a banana while skiing and holding the rope with his teeth
are still legendary. He held the veteran barefoot jumping
record of 34 feet and was elected into the sport's hall of fame at age
76.
George Blanda (football)
Blanda starred in the NFL for 26 years between 1949 and 1975, longer than any
other player. The Houston franchise cut him at age 39, thinking he was too old,
but Blanda played nine more years in Oakland, where he starred as the
team's best player. He enjoyed perhaps his finest season at age 43, leading
his team to five straight wins with last-second heroics. He played his final
NFL game at age 48—the oldest player in NFL history by three years.
Babe Didrikson Zaharias (golf, other sports)
Didrikson achieved greatness in a wide variety of sports. Once asked if there
was anything that she didn't play, she replied, "Yeah, dolls." At
age 43, she won the LPGA's U.S. Open and four other titles, earning her the
AP Female Athlete of the Year award—for the sixth time in her career.
George Foreman (boxing)
Before he became known for his indoor grill, Foreman was the 1968 Olympic
boxing champion, and in 1973 he defeated Joe Frazier for the heavyweight title.
In 1974 he defeated Muhammad Ali in the famous "Rumble in the Jungle"
to retain his title. After a 10-year break to build his ministry, he returned
to boxing in 1987. Foreman won the heavyweight title in 1994 at age
46—successfully defending his title three times.
Aladar Gerevich (fencing)
The only athlete ever to win medals at six Olympics, Gerevich is also the only
athlete to win the same event six times. In 1952, at age 42, he collected one
of each medal at the Helsinki games. In 1956 and 1960 he collected two more
gold medals to bring his total medal count to 10. His skills in fencing remain
legendary as he competed at the highest levels into his 50s.
Gordie Howe (hockey)
A six-time NHL MVP, Gordie Howe was the original "great one" on the
ice, playing in the NHL between 1946 and 1980. The most points (103) that he
ever scored in any season during his 26-year NHL career came at age 41, and he
held nearly all scoring records in the league until someone named Gretzky
arrived.
Michael Jordan (basketball)
Arguably the game's greatest player ever, Jordan won five MVP awards and
six titles as a member of the Chicago Bulls. Later in his career, as kids
straight out of high school started to take over the NBA landscape, the
40-year-old Jordan scored 40 points in a game and went on to average 20 points
a game in his final season.
Patrick McDonald (shot put)
This Times Square traffic cop competed in two Olympic Games, becoming, at the
time, the oldest Olympian to win gold when he won the shot put at the Antwerp
Games in 1920.
Matthew McGrath (hammer throw)
An Irish-American policeman who competed in four Olympic Games, McGrath took
the silver medal in the hammer throw at the Paris Games in 1924 at age 45.
Eugenio Monti (bobsleigh)
The nine-time world champion in bobsleigh throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Monti
won his only gold medals at age 40 for Italy at the 1968 Winter Olympic
Games.
Archie Moore (boxing)
Moore was a professional boxer for 27 years from 1936 to 1963, with 141
professional knockouts to his name—more than any other boxer has
achieved. Moore won the light-heavyweight title at age 39 and held it for
nearly a decade. He fought Muhammad Ali in 1962—allegedly at age 49, but
many suspect he was older.
Martina Navratilova (tennis)
Perhaps the greatest female tennis player to pick up a racquet, Navratilova has
the most wins ever on the WTA circuit, collecting a staggering 18 career major
singles titles. At age 46, she won two major mixed-doubles titles in 2003 (the
Australian Open and Wimbledon). All told, she has collected eight doubles
titles since turning 40. Navratilova announced recently that she'll play
singles this month at the French Open, her first Grand Slam singles appearance
since 1994.
Jack Nicklaus (golf)
Still one of the driving forces in golf, Nicklaus won 18 major championships
during his career and helped bring golf to the public spotlight with his
swagger, style, and unmatched performance. In 1986 at age 46, Nicklaus won his
sixth Masters to become the oldest champion to date.
Satchel Paige (baseball)
For more than four decades in the Negro Leagues and the majors, Leroy Robert
"Satchel" Paige used his pitching prowess and flashy, outspoken style
to fashion a legendary career. He was a Major League All-Star at ages 45 and
46, pitched in the majors well into his 50s, and is considered by many to be
the greatest pitcher the game has seen.
Arnold Palmer (golf)
The first golfer to have his own cheering section, "Arnie's
Army," Palmer changed the game of golf by bringing the elite sport to the
public. The winner of more than 75 tournaments throughout his career, Palmer
shot his age (73) in a tournament in 2002, played in the 2004 Masters at age
75, has won 10 events on the Senior Tour (including the US Senior Open in 1981
at age 51), and remains one of the game's biggest ambassadors.
Laffit Pincay Jr. (horse racing)
At age 52, Laffit Pincay Jr. broke the record of 8,833 lifetime victories held
by Willie Shoemaker, a record that he still holds today. He once won seven
races in one day at Santa Anita in California at age 41 and has won the
Eclipse Award for best jockey a record five times in his career.
Jerry Rice (football)
The NFL's all-time leading receiver, Rice will turn 42 in the 2004 season.
At age 40, he posted a remarkable 92-catch, 1,211-yard season as a member of
the Oakland Raiders. Rice and his teammates went on to the Super Bowl that
year.
Nolan Ryan (baseball)
The all-time Major League Baseball strikeout king played between 1966 and 1993
and recorded his 5,000th strikeout in 1989 at age 42. Ryan won the ERA title at
age 40, led the league in strikeouts at age 41, threw his sixth career
no-hitter at age 44, and remained a dominant pitcher until age 46.
Willie Shoemaker (horse racing)
Winner of more than 8,000 horseracing wins as a jockey, Shoemaker is the most
famous and decorated jockey of all time. He won 11 Triple Crown races and 10
national money titles. At age 54, Shoemaker became the oldest jockey to win the
Kentucky Derby aboard 18-1 shot Ferdinand in 1986.
Oscar Swahn (riflery)
"The Oldest Olympian" competed in his first Games in 1908 at age 60,
winning two gold medals and a bronze in shooting events. In 1912 he added
another gold medal and a bronze, and in 1920 at age 72 he collected a silver
medal.
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