8 replies to this topic

[Stefanovic]

I'm not talking about ex-champions being 80-90 today, but for instance: Last year Belgium's best tennis player ever Justine Henin had to retire due to an elbow injury. Doctors said it would take a long time to heal and she might not be able to get back to the top of the game.
Today people say: she's done. People won't expect her to come back at the age of 40 BUT do you think it might be possible for young sports champions ( let's say around 30 yrs of age today) to come back within 20-25 yrs at their top level without noticing a difference in their game? We might be able to rejuvenate other people but will it be possible to get pro's back at their top level?

[Mind]

Yes it will be possible, but it will take newer rejuvenation therapies, including "performance enhancing drugs" BY DEFINITION.

I am all for professional athletes using safe PEDs. I figure it is good for the sport and for entertainment value if the athletes use safe methods to enhance their "game". Unfortunately, this is not the opinion of the current political class, especially in the U.S. Professional sports leagues in the U.S. are on the warpath against anything that could possibly give an athlete an edge or recuperate faster. This is to the detriment to society as a whole, as safe PEDs would most probably find their way into rejuvenation therapies for the general population.

So it is more of a political question, than a question of scientific possibility. Yes, a 30 year old sports will be able to return to top form 10 years from now, but we (anti-aging advocates) will have to fight tooth and nail for every rejuvenation therapy.

[churchill]

In principle once longevity therapies are available then this will happen. Remember that longevity only works if the age of the body is dialed back to 20-30.

[Musli]

This will be a problem in the future, but, obviously, it's better to have such a problem, than to decay in a coffin. In sports, people come, people go. You had Maradona, now you have Messi. Without aging, you'll have sportsmen doing sports "till the end of time". Where's place for new, young ones ? More clubs every year ? Or extreme competition, getting more extreme every year ? That will be a tough nut to crack.

[Stefanovic]

would be great to see rejuvenated icons playings against new talents, would sell many more tickets, so much more money to invest in education.

[Mind]

This will be a problem in the future, but, obviously, it's better to have such a problem, than to decay in a coffin. In sports, people come, people go. You had Maradona, now you have Messi. Without aging, you'll have sportsmen doing sports "till the end of time". Where's place for new, young ones ? More clubs every year ? Or extreme competition, getting more extreme every year ? That will be a tough nut to crack.

You have illuminated the toughest challenge for society going forward with rejuvenation therapies. Most critics of life extension focus on resource depletion, equality, over-population and other minor issues. The real challenge for people who advocate radical life extension and rejuvenation is to communicate that a non-aging population is a "good" thing. Everyone knows that rejuvenation therapies will radically change society (and sports) and the normal assumption is that this is bad, very bad. People are generally resistant to change and rejuvenation is a BIG change. We will have to convince people that this change is one for the better (if we want progress to go more smoothly).

[churchill]

This will be a problem in the future, but, obviously, it's better to have such a problem, than to decay in a coffin. In sports, people come, people go. You had Maradona, now you have Messi. Without aging, you'll have sportsmen doing sports "till the end of time". Where's place for new, young ones ? More clubs every year ? Or extreme competition, getting more extreme every year ? That will be a tough nut to crack.

I don't think this will end up happening, people eventually get bored etc would want to do something else, and to stay at this high level requires complete commitment and a huge amount of continuous training. Imagine doing the same job for 1000 years? No People will end up switching roles and retraining in new fields etc.

[Musli]

I don't think this will end up happening, people eventually get bored etc would want to do something else, and to stay at this high level requires complete commitment and a huge amount of continuous training. Imagine doing the same job for 1000 years? No People will end up switching roles and retraining in new fields etc.

I hope you're right. But, on a side note, I'd love to watch Messi play forever :D

[churchill]

I don't think this will end up happening, people eventually get bored etc would want to do something else, and to stay at this high level requires complete commitment and a huge amount of continuous training. Imagine doing the same job for 1000 years? No People will end up switching roles and retraining in new fields etc.

I hope you're right. But, on a side note, I'd love to watch Messi play forever :D

I bet you would get bored eventually:)