Sometimes age is just a number. Just ask Alan Moore, a 61 year old college place kicker at Faulkner University or ask Ms. Phyllis Reffo, a 49 year old member of the Pepperdine Women’s Swim team. Mr. Moore is a Vietnam veteran and a grandfather of five. His Cinderella story can be found here. Ms. Reffo is a former model and mother of two. Her story can be found here.
As athletes get older, they discover to their horror that while the mind can still perform, their bodies often betray them. Their reflexes slow down, their stamina is not as great as it use to be and their recovery time between events increases. Because their mind tells them that they can still perform at competitive levels, we the audience often watch with 
profound sadness as our athletic heroes get hit with punches they used to block easily, underthrow passes that they used to make with ease or they swing and miss at pitches they used to crush for homeruns.
Yes, it is sad to watch a star athlete age, but it is a joy to watch an aged athlete star. Kudos to Mr. Moore and Ms. Reffo.