Longevity Olympians: What Team USA Can Teach Us About Living Longer

By Shannon Kasun, Neuroscience Specialist

Olympians are the best of the best in their sports. Years—often decades—of rigorous training culminate in the opportunity to compete on the world stage, representing the pinnacle of human athletic performance.

But their exceptional performance may extend beyond the playing field. Research suggests that Olympians also tend to live longer than the general population, raising an intriguing question: What can these elite athletes teach us about longevity?

A 2019 study of 8,124 former U.S. Olympic athletes who competed in at least one Summer or Winter Olympic Games between 1912 and 2012 found that these elite athletes lived, on average, 5.1 years longer than the general population (Antero et al., 2019). Using a years lost/years saved method, the researchers estimated the number of years of life Olympians gained due to lower mortality from several major causes of death:

• Cardiovascular diseases: 2.2 years saved

• Cancer: 1.5 years saved

• Respiratory diseases: 0.8 years saved

• External causes (e.g. accidents): 0.5 years saved

• Endocrine and metabolic diseases: 0.4 years saved

• Digestive system diseases: 0.3 years saved

  
  

The 2.2 years saved from cardiovascular disease are particularly notable, as cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death globally. One likely contributor to this advantage is the extraordinary amount of physical activity required to reach the Olympic level. Regular physical activity improves cardiorespiratory fitness and favorably influences numerous cardiovascular risk factors, including blood pressure, lipid profiles, insulin sensitivity, and body composition. Although most of us will never train like Olympians, their longevity advantage reinforces a lesson that applies far beyond elite sport: moving more throughout life may be one of our most powerful tools for living longer.

While the majority of us will never qualify for the Olympic Games, staying physically active throughout our lives may help us earn the gold in longevity.

References 

Antero, J., Tanaka, H., De Larochelambert, Q., Pohar-Perme, M., & Toussaint, J. F. (2021). Female and male US Olympic athletes live 5 years longer than their general population counterparts: a study of 8124 former US Olympians. British journal of sports medicine, 55(4), 206–212. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-101696