For as long as the Games have existed, their motto has remained the same: “faster, higher, stronger.” Now, the athletes are older, too. The average age of Olympians has risen to nearly 27 years old from 25 years old in 1988, according to Olympic historian Bill Mallon. These elderly Olympians are the result of a series of forces that have converged at the Rio Games. This year, 31-year-old Michael Phelps became the oldest swimmer ever to win an individual Olympic gold. Olympic athletes have been able to nurture their bodies by rethinking the way they train.

Source: Wall Street Journal August 18, 2016 23:35 UTC