Watching Roger Federer clinically defeat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Australian Open the other night was highly satisfying.
More often than not, athletes in their 30s are written off, so it was great to see a 32-year-old beat a 28-year-old and do it in style. Federer silenced his critics with his performance and also demonstrated that you can teach an ''old'' dog new tricks, finally using his new big racket (and new coach?) to good effect.
Just because he is no longer dominating men's tennis, as he did from 2004 to 2011, does not mean he is over the hill and on the downward slope that spirals into oblivion.
Why are we so desperate to see these 30-somethings call it a day? Do we have their best interests at heart when suggesting they retire because it would be better for them physically, mentally and emotionally if they bow out while they are holding on with their fingernails?Or are we wishing they would retire because it is cringe-worthy and sad watching someone show their vulnerability, vincibility and vices in such a public way?
Personally, I do not see anything depressing about pursuing a career or opportunity of a lifetime for as long as you want. That is how most of us live. We go to work, hope that we have done enough preparation and planning to succeed, surround ourselves with the appropriate resources and support, and hope for the best.
Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. We learn from our mistakes and adjust.
Perhaps when we were younger, total domination mattered to us, but as we mature, we accept that we are not always going to be top dog. That sometimes our opposition, competitors and rivals are better on the day.
That does not mean we roll over and play dead. We get back up and carry on the fight for all that it is worth, until we decide it is time to retire.
The same should be said for athletes. What they lose in terms of physicality they gain in wisdom, and you can do wonders with wisdom.
Just ask the Super rugby coaches who have contracted the likes of Ross Filipo (34), Tom Donnelly (32) and Brad Thorn (38). They are not signing them as charity cases. Sir John Kirwan, Dave Rennie and Jamie Joseph believe that these players can make a difference to their teams not only physically but also tactically and mentally.
Of course, these older players are found in the forward pack, but
it is there that they can contribute the most, using their knowledge of the game and experience at the elite level to lift the rest of their team and lead the way.
The older, experienced players who have managed to hold on to their elite sport careers are also mentally tougher, and some of that mental resilience must rub off on those around them.
Peyton Manning is 37 and in 2013 had one of his most dominant seasons for the Denver Broncos, taking them all the way to the Super Bowl. This was after he had neck surgery to alleviate neck pain and arm weakness and then another operation to fuse his cervical spine in 2011.
Casey Frank (36) was a foundation member of the Breakers 10 years ago and was called back into the squad due to injuries. His enthusiasm and gratitude for the opportunity was infectious and seemed to have some positive impact on what has been a difficult season for the New Zealand franchise.
Longevity in elite sport is not exclusively male, either. Martina Navratilova won the mixed doubles title at the 2006 US Open when she was just one month away from her 50th birthday, and 41-year-old Irene Van Dyk is not ready to hand over the goal shoot bib to Cathrine Latu just yet.
In fact, van Dyk's ability to cope with the intensity and physicality of the game is inspirational for the thousands of New Zealand women playing netball around the country and she must have passed on some tips for injury prevention, recovery and physical conditioning to the likes of Laura Langman, who celebrated who 100th consecutive game for the Silver Ferns this week.
Sport is a mental as well as physical battle, and as the 30-somethings still battling it out on the elite stage sometimes demonstrate, wisdom, resilience, enthusiasm and humility beats youthful exuberance, impatience, and naivety.
