The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-06-19
ATHLETES LIFE SHORT
ileid and Track Wen First TO Feel
as-Nrestlers OutIast Other-Na.
Artists Perform After Other s.b-
etes Have outIised Their I-fnl-
Iie-s IN Sport a. -

Since the close Of the recent o.rn-
PIC games al Athens, where s1ch
4 magnificent showing vas made ~ ras
american athelets, who far exca1Isa
representatives. 81 other countries
the question mas come up % what axe
limit may rhe athele-es 70 and sill, =
aDIe TO win.
D"splte their various and asSo-+~.
ldeas upon training. dieting. and con-
ditioihnS work, nearly all Athletic
autnoTlties agree within 4 few vears
upon the age limit Of the real afhe
TIC career. BY this Is not mean:
man who plays games all hi life
merely for exercise, but one who takes
part In athletic contests, either profess
lonal!y or for the honor If winning
medals and cups. Such athletes break
anywhere between thirty and forfv
years of age. The last-named fc,1ra
Is generally the limit. but, strange 10
say, one Of the last TO go is the orc-
INST. The wrestler, however. has 4
longe allowment of time. while r.c
hammer-thrower or shot-putter is Civ
ell the longest lease OF usefulness.
YOUNGSTERS MAKE RECORDS.
All athletic authorities agree thai
tne track man IS the first 70 lose hi
powers for his time allowance hardly
reaches the aye Of thirty years. The
great track records have been made
Win put lew EXCEPTIONS, by men unde~
tWeHty-eight. Continuous competition
oy track men after the age Of thirt,
really grows dangerous, for, whiie
none Of the organs are worn out. there
Is always a likelihood Of a strain, ana
sometimes IL giving away Of one mem
Der or another should the athlete get
the least bit u Of training and then
attempt to perform his Ole feats.
Several well-known athletic author
tiles have given their views on the
subject. Prof. Thomas Cornelius,
head Of the athletic department Of the
Central 7. NJ. &. A, Of Baltimore. who
mas had long experience not only in
handling young material, but olde~
men who have cot out of training
after their college days and have
desired to get back into the field
again, says. -
I find that a man generally begins
to give way about the age of thirty.
Up to that time he will ena1n good II
he takes normal care of himself. At
ter the age of thirty, however, unless
a man keeps in strict training, in
Guiding a course of dieting, he begins
to go down. The vitality is not there
as formerly, and, though his body may
be in good condition as a half dozen
years before, the young sap is no-
there. AS long as he keeps in strict
training he can keep up a semblanoe Of
his old prOwesS for a short time, but
in endurance tests he gives out.
SLOW IN GETTING STARTED.
The track man is generally the first
to go, and his usefulness us far DIS
records go, is virtually over before
the g of thirty years in most cases.
After hat he lacks the quickness
which lops the seconds off records
He may still be able to do quick dash
es, but he lacks the quickness CT a
start, which formerly won him the
race. The sprint men are the class
that go first, then the distance men
begin to give way. The wind seems
to will be there and the muscles fiex
and reflex properly, but the step is
not the same. 1t is merely that the
vitality has begun to go.
Of the athletes who last longest the
sho.-putters and hammer-throwers
head the list. If a hammer-thrower
takes care of himself he can give a
creditable performance after passing
the 6 of fifty. 1t is a strange fact,
however, that the boxers and wrestlers
are on the mat as long as any They
outlast the track men. and some work
for their livelihood and earn money far
beyond the time the professional
jumper and vaulter can do so. %
course all cases are governed by the
care the athelete takes of himself
Washington Post.