Amazing Older Athletes

Cadel Evans

At age 34, Evans became the oldest person in the past half-century to win the Tour de France when he took the title July 24. The Aussie took the lead in the next-to-last day to capture his first win in the prestigious event.

Bernard Hopkins

Bernard Hopkins became boxing's oldest champion in history by defeating Jean Pascal in a unanimous decision. At 46, Hopkins claimed the WBC light heavyweight title, becoming the oldest boxer to hold a major world belt since George Foreman took the heavyweight title in 1994.

Mark Martin

At 50, Mark Martin is one of the 12 drivers in NASCAR's Chase for the Championship and is seeded No. 1 on the strength of his series-high four victories during the regular season. His performance is right up there among the feats accomplished by some other elder jocks. Here are our favorites.

Luke Appling

The Hall of Fame shortstop leads off an old-timers' game with a 250-foot homer. No big deal -- except that "Old Aches and Pains" is 75 at the time.

Satchel Paige

At 42, ol' Satch signs with the Cleveland Indians at midseason and goes 6-1 with a 2.48 ERA to help the Tribe win the World Series. (Oh, yeah, he also makes a one-inning cameo at 59 with the Kansas City Athletics in 1965.)

Dara Torres

At 40, Torres wins gold in the 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. Nationals. The next year, she takes two silver medals at the Beijing Games.

Gordie Howe

At 51 and competing in his 26th pro season, Mr. Hockey plays all 80 games for the Hartford Whalers, scoring 15 goals and amassing 41 points.

Tom Watson

At 59 and playing on a surgically repaired hip, Watson was the story at the 2009 British Open, golf's oldest major. He shot a 65 in the first round, led after the next two rounds and was up by a stroke heading to the final hole in his bid to become the oldest winner of a golf major. His bogey on 18 and subsequent loss to Stewart Cink in a playoff ruined the story, but still gave hope to old guys everywhere.

George Foreman

By knocking out Michael Moorer, the 45-year-old Foreman regains the heavyweight championship he had lost to Muhammad Ali 20 years before.

Warren Spahn

At 42, the Hall of Fame southpaw goes 23-7 with a 2.60 ERA for the Milwaukee Braves.

George Blanda

The grizzled 43-year-old placekicker steps in at quarterback and, with his toe and arm and often in heart-stopping fashion, leads the Oakland Raiders to four crucial victories and a tie.

Ted Williams

At 38, the Splendid Splinter bats .388 for the Boston Red Sox. A half-dozen additional hits would have gotten him to the .400 mark for the second time.

Nolan Ryan

The 44-year-old Express throws a no-hitter -- his record seventh -- against the Toronto Blue Jays. For the final out, Ryan strikes out Roberto Alomar, whose father, Sandy, had played second base behind Ryan in his first two no-nos.

Jimmy Connors

After a left wrist injury dropped his ranking to No. 936 a year prior, Connors regained his old form in 1991, highlighted by his defining semifinal run at the 1992 U.S. Open. The tournament pinnacle was Connors' come-from-behind, five-set victory over Aaron Krickstein -- on Connor's 39th birthday no less.

Darryl Green

At 42, Green played in all 16 games for the Redskins during his final season (it was his 20th with the team), and he never lost a step. The oldest cornerback in NFL history could still reportedly run a 4.2 past his 40th birthday.

Earl Morrall

The previous April, Dolphins' coach Don Shula purchased Morrall for the $100 waiver fee. When starting quarterback Bob Griese went down in the fifth game, Morrall, 38, stepped in, helping lead Miami to the only undefeated season in league history.

Jack Nicklaus

Jack Nicklaus was already a golfing great. The 1986 Masters made him a golfing legend. At 46, Nicklaus won his record 18th and final major championship by shooting 30 on the back-nine of what turned out to be a one-stroke, sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat, Masters.

Jamie Moyer

At 46, Moyer is currently the oldest player in MLB. Last season he became the second oldest pitcher to start a World Series game (pictured).

Randy Couture

At :08 in the first round of UFC 68, Randy "The Natural" Couture, 43, sent then-champion Tim Sylvia flying to the mat with his first punch. Couture dominated all five rounds, defeating a younger and larger Silvia by a unanimous decision. Who would you add to the list? Sent suggestions to siwriters@simail.com.

Willie Shoemaker

"If Jack Nicklaus can win the Masters at 46, I can win the Kentucky Derby at 54," said Shoemaker before the 1986 Kentucky Derby. That he did, riding Ferdinand to a 2 1/2 length victory and becoming the oldest jockey in history to win the Run for the Roses.

Juwan Howard

The ageless wonder of the NBA, Howard reached the NBA Finals with the Heat at age 38 during his 17th year in the league. Howard has played on seven different teams since 2001 but the end may be near after signing for the veteran minimum salary last season.