It only seems to makes sense that 'most' athletes will live beyond the average life expectancy, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS:
First of all, an athlete has a body that is high performance with a cardiovascular system that keeps humming along like a finely tuned engine. Not only that, but most athletes pay particular attention to what they eat and just what sort of fuel they are using to keep things running smoothly.
Their dietAthletes have come to understand the importance of balance. For example, the balance of carbohydrates, protein and fat that may ultimately decide how they perform on the playing field and how their body will respond to stress of training and also to recovery from that stress. You won't find to many athletes who have diets full of artery clogging, hydrogenated fat.
supplementsMost athletes realize they are taxing their bodies beyond normal extremes and have come to realize the value of proper vitamin supplements to enhance their already stellar diets.
clean livingShow me an athlete who smokes and I will show you an athlete who does not take his sport too seriously. Or his health for that matter. Also, most athletes just can't get away with partying every single weekend with the demands of training and competitions.
restKnowing how to train is one thing, but knowing the need for proper rest and recovery and a good nights sleep is all part of an athletes arsenal and another reason for his longevity.
HOLD ON A MINUTE!
Not every athlete lives a long, healthy life. Of course there are many exceptions.
depends on the sport There are sports out there that don't exactly lend themselves to a guaranteed long, healthy life. There are dangers involved that can end life as they know it at any time. For instance, bull riders are certainly athletes. They can be seconds away from death or serious injury every single time they get on one of those monsters. Race car drivers are athletes. They have to have plenty of endurance and lightning fast reflexes or its lights out in an instant. Even training for an Iron man, I have gone down hills on my bike at 85-90 kph with just my skinny tires between me and a misplaced pothole, or stick, or rock, that could have nothing but bad results. I've been knocked out, broken my collar bone and separated my shoulder in accidents that could have been far worse.
staying fit there is a danger when an athlete competes for most of his life and then simply stops and retires from his sport and no longer lives the 'clean', healthy life. I believe this is especially true with pro athletes who have always looked at their sport as a job. Though it may have been fun to play football through high school, as soon as college rolled around it became serious, and then on to the pros where it became a 'job.' It seems that for most pros, the mindset is that once the career is over, so is the need to stay in top condition.
use it or lose it I believe in the 'hunter-gatherer concept. The belief that as long as you expect your body to perform, it will stay ready to perform. As soon as you don't demand anything physical from it, the body will gladly respond and begin to shut down. Not unlike people who die soon after retiring after working hard all their lives.
Personally, I don't believe the body responds well to doing 'nothing' demanding when that is what it has been used to for years and years. I'm 57 and have been an endurance athlete for some 30 years and it has become a way of life for me. I plan to stay fit and even compete well into my retirement years.
I don't see any reason to stop and I don't think at this point that my body would respond well if I did. It just isn't accustomed to inactivity for long periods of time and could very well rebel.
If that is not reason enough, then I just have to look around at what is happening to my friends and co-workers who are passing away one by one even before they get to retire.
I can't help but think the biggest reason for their early demise is the lifestyle they chose for themselves.
