Unstoppable champions

The ability to stop the clock has been the hallmark of most sporting champions. The greatest among them carry on with their natural sporting abilities while many their age have long hung up their boots. 

Serena Williams, a supermom who overcame post-partum complications including a pulmonary embolism and multiple surgeries last year to pursue her tennis career, is well on her way to a world record 24 Grand Slams held by Margaret Court. At 37, she is the same age as Roger Federer, the genius with the dulcet touch who is looking to build on his record 20 Grand Slams, the highest ever in the men’s game.

Closer home, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, also 37 like his fellow geniuses on the tennis court, keeps proving that age is just a number as he plays on unchallenged as one of the most astute finishers in the ODIs. He displays a rare kind of street smartness and experience in handling the stress and strain of international competition while winning matches for Team India.

So, what gives these champions that winning edge? Possibly a never-say-die spirit and a mind that is always on their game. 

Former Wimbledon champion and seven-time Grand Slam winner Mats Wilander describes Serena Williams best “She is so serious, motivated and focused. Whether it's practice or matches that count for her, she seems able to cheer all her energies and emotions on hitting the yellow ball as hard as she can.” Clearly, the ability to focus sets the supermom apart nearly 23 years after she turned pro at the tender age of 15.

However, there are sacrifices too, some of which are well hidden from public view. For instance, Serena goes on a strict vegan diet to lose weight - “Not a French fry eating vegan,” she clarifies even as she works like a demon on her match fitness. She also cries like any other doting mum because she missed seeing daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr take her first steps in life as she was training at that time.   

Indeed, Serena’s sporting longevity is an inspiration for all. As her agent says - “This is about people - male, female, black, white, rich, poor that are on the floor and don't know if they can get up and do anything. Nothing is impossible.” 

On her part, Serena declares, “I’m such a fighter, I never give up,” after the epic encounter in which she beat World no. 1 Simona Halep to reach the last eight at the Australian Open in Melbourne. Interestingly, Serena is the oldest woman player ever to have beaten a World No. 1.

Of course, there are other reasons why sportspeople are sticking around the arena for longer. There is big prize money and income from endorsements that is good enough to pay for a retinue of nutritionists, trainers and coaches. Dhoni is perhaps an exception to this. He is a self-coached athlete like John McEnroe who never needed a guide to tell him what to do. 

In a smashing comeback mode, Dhoni repaid all the faith placed in him by his skipper and selectors by winning a Man of the Series award after seven long years. “He is not getting any younger. So the consistency you might have at a younger age will obviously not be there and you have to bear with that. But he's still tremendous value to the team,” says Sunil Gavaskar.

If 37 somehow seems a magic number that links Serena, Dhoni and Federer, there is at least one sportsman in the very demanding world of motor racing who keeps proving that age is all in the mind. At 39, Kimi ‘Iceman’ Raikonen not only keeps racing at crazy speeds in excess of 300 kmph but also winning races against far younger opponents in a continuing show of nerveless displays while racing for the Sauber team in Formula One. 

At the end of the day, while many sportspeople would love to play on for longer because the modern rewards are good, there are other considerations which force them off the field. Meanwhile, Serena and Federer are like the old warhorses who enjoy the smell of battle. Dhoni too, it appears, is destined to stick around till he takes another hit at the World Cup for India that he won in 2011.