Still Doing It: The Top 10 Athletes Over 40

Herschel Walker just turned 49, and he's still kicking ass. What other athletes haven't lost a step in middle age?

Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

When most athletes

are ready to pack it in and call it a career, a select few become like a

fine wine and just get better with age. Don’t get us wrong, there are plenty of dong-pic-sending old fogies that don’t know when to call it quits, but that isn’t this list. To celebrate the birthday of Herschel Walker, a man that has conquered the NFL (and USFL!) for more than a decade and is now wrecking shop in MMA, here's a rundown of those that are Still Doing It: The Top 10 Athletes Over 40.

10. Vijay Singh

AGE/DOB: 48 (February 22, 1963)

YEAR STARTED: 1982

COMPLEX SAYS: Some people may dismiss his accomplishments, but you gotta admit, golf is a difficult game. Now add on that The Big Fijian experienced most of his success after 40. Don't hate.

9. David James

AGE/DOB: 40 (August 1, 1970)

YEAR STARTED: 1988

COMPLEX SAYS: "Calamity" James has had his share of howlers over the years, but the fact that he's still earning caps with England means he must be doing something right—either that, or the state of English goalkeeping is in shambles. Robert Green, anyone?

8. Tim Wakefield

AGE/DOB: 44 (August 2, 1966)

YEAR STARTED: 1992

COMPLEX SAYS: Word to Michael Cera and T-Pain: You can make a profitable career out of doing one thing really well. Tim Wakefield's knuckleball has made him enough money to make you mad.

7. Jamie Moyer

AGE/DOB: 48 (November 17, 1962)

YEAR STARTED: 1986

COMPLEX SAYS: C'mon, the guy is almost half a century old, his fastball reaches a high school pitcher's speed, and yet he's still #winning. Must be the tiger blood.

6. Randy Couture

AGE/DOB: 47 (June 22, 1963)

YEAR STARTED: 1998

COMPLEX SAYS: What is it with all these 40-plus dudes still pwning dudes in Mixed Martial Arts? Don't be fooled by the age, young'ns.

5. Dara Torres

AGE/DOB: 43 (April 15, 1967)

YEAR STARTED: 1984

COMPLEX SAYS: No way you can hate on Dara. Three medals in the 2008 Olympics. Three American swimming records set after hitting 40. One sick body. "Fuckin' ridiculous." (c) RZA

4. Nicklas Lidstrom

AGE/DOB: 40 (April 28, 1970)

YEAR STARTED: 1987

COMPLEX SAYS: Gordie Howe's record of oldest to play in an NHL game (52 years!) is probably safe, but watch out, Chris Chelios. At the rate Nik is playing, he could pass Chelios' record for oldest defenseman in 2019.

3. Bernard Hopkins

AGE/DOB: 46 (January 15, 1965)

YEAR STARTED: 1988

COMPLEX SAYS: At his age, B-Hop should probably be making the rounds pushing some indoor grill or something. Just don't tell that to someone that can still kick ass in the ring—and mean-mug the shit out of anyone outside of it.

2. Mariano Rivera

AGE/DOB: 41 (November 29, 1969)

YEAR STARTED: 1995

COMPLEX SAYS: STILL the best closer in the league. Period. Need we say more?

1. Herschel Walker

AGE/DOB: 49 (March 3, 1962)