LIFE begins at 40?

Ask anyone over the age of 41 and they might beg to differ.

And once you reach 50 . . . hey, it's all over.

But is it?

In recent weeks we've seen some astonishing stories written by those who might previously have been regarded by their rivals as 'over the hill'.

Perhaps the most surprising was that of 41-year-old American swimmer Dara Torres who is heading for her fifth Olympic Games – her first was in Los Angeles in 1984 – after earning her spot in the squad in the highly competitive US trials in a sport which was once dominated by teenagers.

And not only has she booked her ticket to Beijing by crushing much younger rivals, she's done so in the 50 metres freestyle – swimming's version of athletics' 100 metres sprint – where sheer speed might be just as important as technique.

She'll also be a member of two relay teams.

The point that age no longer matters was best driven home by golf legend Greg Norman at last weekend's gripping British Open when the 'Shark' featured among the top few on the leaderboard from start to finish before being outplayed in the final round by eventual winner Padraig Harrington.

Golf, might some argue, isn't the most physical of sports and was once regarded as an 'old man's game'.

But in recent years that's certainly changed.

The reason that Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia and so many others are so successful is that they spend as much time in the gym as they do on the driving range.

And Norman made no bones about the fact that it was his commitment to staying in shape, not his golf swing, meant he could still be competitive – even at the age of 53.

The message he sent out last Sunday was a compelling one that might have changed the way we all think about our own capabilities.

The same message had been delivered by American golfer Kenny Perry a week earlier after he won his third PGA Tour title in the space of five weeks at the age of 47.

"I guess 47 is the new 30," he chuckled after being asked how he continued to raise his game.

Maybe it is.

In Bermuda we've seen plenty evidence of the same.

Road runners Ray Swan, Jeff Payne and David Saul were still placing in the top three in races well into their 40s. On the bike, Payne gave his rivals a run for their money after he turned 60.

Another cyclist, Greg Hopkins, now in his mid-50s, has been a force on the roads this year and 'marathon man' Cal Steede continues to churn out the miles while 50-plus Philip Albouy and 60-plus Anton Duzevic showed hundreds a clean pair of heels in this year's May 24 Marathon Derby . . . as they have been doing for decades.

Evergreen cricketer Charlie Marshall played his first Cup Match in 1980 when he was 19-years-old and you can bet St. George's will already have pencilled in his name before they pick this year's team for the classic tomorrow night.

As Norman and swimmer Torres stressed, it's all about maintaining fitness. Age is irrelevant.

Their examples in the last few weeks will no doubt have inspired thousands around the world who thought their sports careers were over.

* * * *

DUNCAN Newby showed he could still be competitive in the water while still in his 50s, although not quite as successful as when he represented Great Britain in his 20s.

The difference, however, was that for the last 10 years he'd been battling cancer.

Sadly, at the age of 57, Duncan passed away last week at his home in Cornwall, England.

The former Warwick Academy teacher, well known in Bermuda as both a swim coach and athletic coach – for a lengthy period he worked with top road runner Kavin Smith – was back on the Island last year when he again competed in the Round the Sound Swim.

There's been talk this week that annual event might be renamed in his memory.

For someone who contributed so much to the sport, it would be a fitting tribute.

* * * *

ON the subject of posthumous awards, the name of Michael Preece will immediately come to mind.

For the hundreds who have played and still play softball, Preece was the man who made it happen almost every night of the week.

He too died last week, just a month after being inducted into the International Softball Hall of Fame where it was also announced that the Bernard Park softball diamond would be renamed the Michael Preece Diamond.

Bernard Park was his home away from home – a pristine facility which Preece took enormous pride in maintaining no matter how many hours that entailed.

Fortunately, he was honoured for his years of dedication before he passed away.

Now, perhaps, an annual game bearing his name should also be played.

Again, there would no better tribute.

– ADRIAN ROBSON