strength peak

Steve said:I think it varies between the sports.

You don't see many top weightlifters improving much past their early thirties, whilst it's not uncommon for powerlifters to still be improving and even winning World Championships in their late forties and sometimes into their early fifties.

Tom_Martin said:
I'm going to be a bas***d and suggest that maybe powerlifters aren't getting stronger into their 50's, but equipment is getting better. Perhaps if the same powerlifter had todays equipment when he was in his 30's, he may have hit his peak strength then? This would suggest the drop off in strength from when you hit your peak has been slower than the technological advancements made to equipment. I think this is entirely possible, but I'm not sure what I personally believe. Maybe it's been the case for some and not others, I don't know.

Steve said:
The have certainly been many powerlifters who have won World Championships into their mid to late forties well before modern equipment, including Ron Collins who last won the Worlds at something like 44.
Maybe top lifters aren't getting strongber, but they are certainly managing to maintaining their strength levels. Brad Gillingham for example has continued to improved his deadlift (a lift not particularly aided by kit) into his mid forties and is still pulling virtually 400kg and what about Dave Ricks who at over fifty years old is lifting 300kg, 202.5kg, 327.5kg at 90kg UNEQUIPPED.

Tom_Martin said:
Some very impressive examples! I'd be curious as to what age they started training at, as I think that would be vital to make any kind of assessment. Someone who starts training at the age of 60 may peak in his 70's (as an extreme example) but this only reflects his training peak, and not his physiological peak in strength. I'd guess most people will hit a physiological peak in their late 30's perhaps.
BUT obviously, as I suspect may be true for at least some of the examples you gave, some peoples training and physiological peaks won't coincide, which is dependant on so many factors, such as how long they've been training, how long they've been training correctly, injuries etc etc. Someone might be plagued with injuries due to poor training choices when they should've been hitting their peak, and then would go on to get stronger past their physiological peak due to making better decisions in the gym, and making better progress because they avoid injuries etc.
So I'd agree, the examples you gave are very impressive and show that they have at the very least, maintained their strength for a long time, but it doesn't necessarily mean that they are not past their peak. I'd suggest that Dave Ricks would have performed better in his late 30's / early 40's had his training and physiological peak coincided, but obviously I can't be certain. It just seems to make sense as there is an undeniable drop off in testosterone production as you get older.

Tom_Martin said:
It just seems to make sense as there is an undeniable drop off in testosterone production as you get older.

Boar said:my strength will peak at 2pm on sunday and then decline to that of a chuckle brother

Steve said:
I wonder what effect heavy intense lifting has on this.