Sports medicine stats: Older athletes competing in triathlons
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
Since 2008, participation in triathlon competitions has risen 60% in the United States. Interestingly, more than 850,000 adults over 40 years of age currently participate in them. The fastest growing age groups among the competitors are those aged 40 to 44 and those 35 to 39.
At the Ironman triathlon distance event, the number of finishers over 40 years of age has increased from 25% to more than 50% over the last quarter century.
-Source: Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, September 2014
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
Since 2008, participation in triathlon competitions has risen 60% in the United States. Interestingly, more than 850,000 adults over 40 years of age currently participate in them. The fastest growing age groups among the competitors are those aged 40 to 44 and those 35 to 39.