Vol. 27 No. 297 (2023)
Among the best even though the years go by
During the last soccer World Cup, three players stood out from the rest in their teams: Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić and Lionel Messi. Repeatedly each time they entered the game, the commenters recalled their ages, speculating when they would retire and anticipating their farewell to the World Cups. They expressed concepts loaded with prejudices, stereotypes and discrimination applied to people exclusively based on age.
A few weeks later we witnessed the surpassing of the mark of 38,387 points held by Kareem Abdul Jabbar in basketball. An achievement for LeBron James after two decades of playing at the highest level, averaging close to 30 points per game this season; among other notable successes, he was a four-time Finals and Regular Season Most Valuable Player, four NBA titles with three teams, and a two-time gold medalist at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics. There were more experienced athletes who stood out, such as Aladár Gerevich, a Hungarian fencer who won the gold medal at the age of 50 at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome, and Dara Torres, an American swimmer who participated in five Olympic events, the last in 2008, obtaining 3 silver medals, at age 41.
Currently, with the contribution of technology, the care of training and rest, with the advice of highly trained professionals in sports science, added to succulent prizes that are awarded to the number ones, the time of participation in athletes has been extended. LeBron shows remarkable valuability at his 38. Messi will be only one year older in the next World Cup to be played in North America. And along with other outstanding athletes, they should be valued for their talent, their efficiency, their respect for the fans, their commitment to play, and not for their age.
Tulio Guterman - Director, February 2023
Published:
2023-02-13
