Ronaldo, Vonn and Roland Fischnaller are showing us how it's done.

Veterans like Cristiano Ronaldo (who will turn 41 in February), Lindsey Vonn (41), record-breaking footballer Kazu Miura (58), ski jumpers Noriaki Kasai (53), Simon Ammann (44), but also Roland Fischnaller (45), Aaron March (39) and Christof Innerhofer (41): They impressively demonstrate that world-class performance is not necessarily tied to an ideal biological age. Rather, experience is becoming increasingly important in modern high-performance sports.

The sporting year 2025 has impressively demonstrated that increasing age does not necessarily lead to a decline in performance. While young talents are pushing onto the international stage faster, stronger, and seemingly more carefree than ever, experienced athletes have impressively proven that world-class performance is not tied to birthdates.

Ronaldo and Vonn are prime examples. Cristiano Ronaldo remains a global phenomenon. At almost 41 years old (his birthday is on February 5th), the Portuguese star continues to deliver goals, presence, and leadership – in a role he has consistently refined over the years. His playing style has become more economical, his runs more precise, and his efficiency in the penalty area remains impressive. Above all, Ronaldo embodies a new type of aging elite athlete: supremely professional, data-driven, and disciplined. In 2025, he is less a symbol of youthful dynamism than of adaptability and mental dominance.

A phenomenon: Cristiano Ronaldo © APA/afp / FAYEZ NURELDINE

Lindsey Vonn also made a strong comeback in 2025. Whether as an active athlete or a defining figure in the Ski World Cup, her achievements and influence underscore the continued value of experience in the high-risk sport of alpine skiing. Vonn represents a generation of athletes who have learned to combine speed with strategic intelligence. Her career, both in retrospect and in the present, demonstrates that technique, course knowledge, and mental resilience often become more pronounced with age than raw aggression.

South Tyroleans are also setting an example. Kazu Miura remains a special case, still playing professional football in 2025. While his athletic performance is no longer world-class, his presence is symbolically significant. Miura embodies the idea that experience, game intelligence, and professionalism can at least partially compensate for physical limitations. In an era where careers begin and often end earlier, his career stands in stark contrast to the throwaway mentality of modern professional sports.

In South Tyrolean winter sports, Roland Fischnaller and Christof Innerhofer in particular demonstrated in 2025 that experience can be a decisive competitive advantage. Fischnaller continues to hold his own in parallel snowboarding against significantly younger competitors. His success is based less on peak athleticism than on technical precision, a feel for the equipment, and outstanding mental consistency – qualities that develop over years and are crucial in a sport like snowboarding. It's no coincidence that Fischnaller's biggest rivals, Andreas Prommegger (also 45), Benjamin Karl (40), Zan Kosir (41), and even Aaron March (39) from his own team, are also very experienced. Innerhofer, in turn, remains a prime example of longevity in ski racing. In 2025, he continues to benefit from course knowledge, risk assessment, and a composure that makes all the difference in crucial moments.

The year 2025 therefore does not mark an exceptional situation, but rather a continuation of a structural transformation in elite sports. Advances in training management, regeneration, and sports medicine are noticeably extending careers. At the same time, the understanding of performance has changed: game intelligence, mental strength, and self-management have become equally important factors alongside strength and speed. Experienced athletes are not nostalgic relics, but highly functional performers. They demonstrate that being world-class today primarily means continuously adapting, redefining one's own strengths, and strategically applying experience. In an increasingly fast-paced sporting world, this is precisely their greatest asset.

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Ronaldo, Vonn and Roland Fischnaller are showing us how it's done.

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