Masters athletes are a diverse group comprising a range of ages, competitive and/or health goals, previous sporting experience, and health status. In many sports the masters categories begin at age 30-35, however the minimum age depends on the sport – some masters competitions accept competitors as young as 18. Many athletes compete at ages that are older than this; the combined average age of competitors at recent Masters Games in Australia was over 50, and the maximum was 89! As an athlete ages their needs can become more specialised, so consulting with an Accredited Sports Dietitian is recommended. This fact sheet is targeted to the older masters competitors.
