Decades ago, professional athletes played into their mid-to-late 30s and then retired. In the 21st century, training and a healthy lifestyle have become key factors in extending one's career, as seen in the case of Tom Brady, who played in the NFL until age 45.
On the other side of the world from Pittsburgh, Jaromir Jagr, the NHL's second-leading scorer in history, is preparing for another season of professional hockey with Ryūtiri Kladno, the team he owns in the Czech Republic.
Last season, the then 51-year-old played in 15 games and recorded four assists.
For those keeping track at home, Jagr, who turned 52 in February, is entering his 35th season of professional hockey, a career that began in 1988-1989 under T.J. Kladno.
Jagr has recorded 766 goals and 1,155 assists for 1,921 points in 24 NHL seasons, second only to Wayne Gretzky in points, fourth in goals and fifth in assists.
The Penguins, who drafted Jagr fifth overall in 1990, will retire his iconic No. 68 jersey early in 2024 in a ceremony attended by many Hall of Fame inductees, including Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis and Scotty Bowman.
A 30-year veteran of professional hockey, Jagr has skated in the NHL, KHL and Olympics, and also played several times for the Czech Republic.
In addition to representing his country in international hockey, Jagr has played over 2,200 games in organized hockey leagues, scoring over 950 goals and recording over 1,400 assists for nearly 2,400 career points.
Considering Jagr owns Ryūtiri Kladno, he continues to play because he can and skate for the fans. Of course, the next Olympics are looming in 2026, and the chance to play once more may be what keeps Jagr lacing up his skates.
Now the Hockey Hall of Fame is waiting for him to play one last game before inducting him as one of the greatest skaters of all time.
