Top 10 late-bloomers in the history of sports

Sport is a profession that comes with a definite expiry date. If you wish to know the significance of age, an athlete is probably the best person that you can pose the question to. Well aware of the duration of their shelf lives, athletes go to unfathomable lengths to keep the undesirable consequences of age at bay. From Sachin Tendulkar to Lionel Messi, the sporting landscape is dotted with players who showed signs of greatness at very early stages in their life. At the other end of the spectrum are players who, despite realising their talent relatively late in their lives, leave behind monumental achievements in careers that do not last very long. It is time to take a look at 10 such late blooming athletes, who have enriched the history of their respective sports, not only numbers and mind-boggling statistics, but with plenty of memories as well.

#1 Michael Hussey (Cricket)

Michael Hussey was 30 years old when he made his international debut in 2005. By the time he retired in 2013,he was being counted amongst the best batsmen of his generation.

The 2010-11 Ashes series was nothing short of Ricky Ponting’s worst nightmare. Ponting lost the Ashes series for a third time and Australia looked in a shambles. However, one player, for whose blood the media had been baying prior to the commencement of the series, gave the Australian crowd something to cheer for, scoring 570 runs and ending up as the tournament’s second-highest run-getter, behind Alastair Cook (766 runs).

This batsman was none other than Mr.Cricket, Michael Hussey. Hussey spent a decade playing domestic cricket, for six years in Australia before shifting to England in 2001. His inordinate wait was finally over when he was called on to play for the Australian national side in 2005, aged 30.

Far from making him bitter and maybe even jaded, the time that he spent in domestic cricket had crafted Hussey into a near perfect batsman with sound technique and immense concentration, the latter attribute being one with which he would be associated for nearly his entire career.

When he first burst onto the international scene, Hussey displayed an almost insatiable appetite for runs, as he accumulated a jaw-dropping 1560 runs in just 15 Tests, while also becoming the fastest batsman to reach 1000 runs. His agility on the field, along with the ner superhuman feats that he achieved with the willow made one wonder if he was 30 or 13.

However, it was the ease with which this so-called old fashioned cricketer adjusted to the game’s shortest and youngest format, the T20s, that left everyone flabbergasted. In the IPL, playing for Chennai Super Kings, he dazzled the spectators with his electric brand of fielding and displaying an aggressive side to his batting, one that not many had known existed.

Despite playing alongside some of the powerful hitters that the game has ever known, such as Hayden and Dhoni, Hussey succeeded in carving a niche for himself and became one of the lynchpins of the batting order in a side that had a surfeit of batting talent. In January 2013, Hussey announced his retirement from international cricket after guiding Australia to a win against Sri Lanka with an undefeated 27 in Sydney. He continues to play in the IPL.

#2 Didier Drogba (Football)

It was only upon his arrival at Chelsea, when he was aged 26, that Didier Drogba’s career really took off.

Hailed by Chelsea fans as the club’s greatest player ever, Didier Drogba made his professional debut at the age of 18 for a second division French club, Le Mans. However, his career never really took off till he signed up for Chelsea in 2004, aged 26.

While he is the highest goal scorer for his country with 65 goals in 104 appearances, Ivory Coast, it is for his achievements in the English Premier League, playing for Chelsea, that he is most famous. He is the club’s fourth highest goal scorer and holds the distinction of being the highest foreign goal scorer for the club.

His first stint with Chelsea lasted eight years long, from 2004 to ‘12. He appeared for Chelsea 226 times in the period, scoring 100 goals. He was voted the African Footballer of the year twice, once in 2006 and again in 2009, in this time period.

Upon the expiry of his contract with Chelsea in June 2012, he signed up for Shanghai Shenhua before moving to Galatasaray the following year, before returning home to Chelsea in 2014. Upon returning to Chelsea, he remarked that he couldn’t turn down an opportunity to work with Jose Mourinho, Chelsea’s coach, again. The latter too expressed his pleasure at the return of Drogba to Chelsea.

Even at 37, Drogba continues to command respect from the football community and is still counted among the best strikers in the world.

#3 Stan Wawrinka (Tennis)

It took Wawrinka nearly twelve years to win a Grand Slam

The sight of Stanislas Wawrinka standing upright and firing his famous down the line backhands is a sight to behold with a million eyes. The Swiss, who has spent nearly his entire career in obscurity owing to the colossal achievements of his larger-than-life compatriot, Roger Federer, finally came into his own in 2014, when he defeated Rafael Nadal in the final of the Australian Open to win his only Grand Slam title till date.

Although he entered the top 10 rankings in 2008, his performances in the Grand Slam events were underwhelming and discussions surrounding him revolved largely around his majestic grace and style, on which all seemed to be in agreement, while observers and experts of the game bemoaned his inability to perform on the big stage. 2008 was rendered sweeter to Wawrinka, the Gold Medal that he won in collaboration with Roger Federer for the doubles event in Beijing becoming a highlight in his career.

It was only in 2011 that Wawrinka succeeded in quelling doubts over his ability. After winning the Chennai Open in the run-up to the Australian Open, Wawrinka went on to progress to the quarter-final of a Grand Slam for the first time, where he was undone by Roger Federer.

After making it to the semi-finals of the US Open in 2013, Wawrinka entered 2014 swelling with new found confidence and buoyed by his success at the Chennai Open, he came into the Australian Open as a serious contender. En route to the final, he defeated Novak Djokovic in a gruelling five-setter in the quarter-final and snapped his losing streak against Rafael Nadal, beating the Spaniard for the first time in 13 meetings.

After nearly 12 years on the professional circuit, Wawrinka finally clasped his hands around a Grand Slam trophy. He had ensured that he wouldnt be just another page in history books dedicated to Federer.

#4 Oscar Swahn (Shooting)

Oscar Swahn, who was 72 when he competed in the Summer Olympics at Antwerp in 1920, remains the oldest athlete ever to have participated in the Olympic games.

The oldest athlete ever to compete in the Olympic Games, Oscar Swahn of Sweden showed the world that was indeed just a number as long as one's passion for life remained undiminished.

Oscar Swahn was 60 years old when he competed in the London Summer Olympics in 1908, an event in which he won two Gold Medals (Running deer and Single shot) and a Bronze medal in the running deer double shot event. His team clinched Gold yet again in the 1912 Olympics, that were held in Sweden, while he won the Bronze in the individual double shot event.

He kept his date with the Olympics yet again in 1920 when he competed at Antwerp, aged 72, the oldest athlete ever to compete in the games. Although he failed to win any medals in the individual events, his team bagged the Silver in the double shot running deer contest.

#5 Rickie Lambert (Football)

Rickie Lambert played his first Premier League in 2012 and two years later, he moved to Liverpool.

Rickie Lambert was aged 30 when he played his first Premier league game against Manchester City and scored a goal on debut. A year later, he made his debut for the England national team and scored there as well, in a friendly against Scottland, with his first touch.

His transfer from Southampton to Liverpool in 2014 was the culmination of a long career. After having to sell beetroots in order to make his ends meet prior to his Premier League debut, a move to a club like Liverpool was indded the realisation of a dream.

On moving to Liverpool, Lambert was jubilant, expressing his delight by saying that he would do all within his poer to justify his position in the team.

#6 Misbah-ul-Haq (Cricket)

Aged 40, Misbah-ul-Haq remains one of the best Pakistani batsmen.

No cricket fan will forget the closing moments of the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007, when Misbah-ul-Haq, trying to work a Joginder Sharma dlivery to the boundary

signalled the end to Pakistan's hopes of winning the title. However, Misbah’s name will remain ethced forver in the pages of cricket history for reasons other than his involvement in that emotion packed final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

Misbah was 33 years old when he played the T20 World Cup in 2007. Dubbed as a young man’s format, many seniors, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly among them, had preferred to sit out of the event. However, this 33-year old made the format his own, bringing his unique brand of aggression, one that was tempered by technique and patience, to dazzle and delight the spectators.

While his failure to get that ill-fated delivery over the boundary ropes remains fresh in everyone’s memory, that Pakistan wouldn’t have come within sniffing distance of victory had it not been for him is conveniently forgotten. His assault against Harbhajan Singh towards the final stages of the match was truly unforgettable.

Aged 40, Misbah led the Pakistan team to the quarter-finals of the recently concluded 50-Over World Cup and is, after Younis Khan, their best batsman at the moment across all three formats.

#7 Li Na (Tennis)

Aged 29, Li Na created history by becoming the first Asian to win a singles Grand Slam eventwhen she beat Francesca Schiavone in the final of French Open 2011.

On June 4 2011, Li Na made history by becoming the first Asian to win a Grand Slam singles event. This, after having spent 12 years on the professional circuit. Two and a half years later, pushing 32, she went on towin her second and last Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, defeating Dominika Cibulkova, becoming only the fourth woman to win a title match after being a match point down.

Although she has won nine WTA titles in all, Li Na’s success cannot be measured in terms of numbers. Her victories at the Majors have been a source of great inspiration for Asian players. She attained her highest WTA ranking in February 2014, rising to second position before announcing her retirement from the sport seven months later owing to worsening knee injuries.

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#8 Steve Nash (Basketball)

Steve Nash was at his best in his early thirties, going on to win the MVP award twice, when he was aged 31 and 32.

Unlike most of the NBA superstars, Steve Nash began playing basketball relatively late. The late start to his career did not hinder him from attaining dizzying heights in basketball.

Steve Nash was the very archetype of the late bloomer, his best years coming when he was in his early thirties. He won NBA's Most Valuable Player (MVP) for two consecutive years, when he was aged 31 and 32, coming runner-up at 33, the first Cannadian to accomplish the milestone.

Persistent nerve injuries forced Steve Nash, 41, to call time on an illustrious 19-year carreer in March, earlier this year.

#9 Fauja Singh

Fauja Singh is 104 years old and continues to run at international marathon events.

To try to decribe Fauja Singh, who turned 104 on first April, is to beggar the imagination. A marathon runner, Fauja Singh is the holder of a number of records, including the World Record for the Marathon in his age bracket.

Interestingly enough, Fauja Singh, whose passion for running has left the entire world in a daze developed the ability to walk only at the age of five. Although he was a passionate runner, he gave it up following the partition of India only to return to it following the death of his son in 1994.

Unfazed by the difficulty that running a marathon involved, Fauja trained hard to participate in international marathon events before he shot to fame at the age of 93 when he completed the race (26.2 miles) in six hours and 54 minutes.

#10 Dilip Doshi (Cricket)

His late foray into international cricket notwithstanding, Dishi continues to be counted amongst India’s best spinners.

After having spent the better part of his career under the intimidating shadow of the legendary off-spinner Bishan Singh Bedi, Dilip Doshi, who was pushing 32 by the time he made his debut in 1979, took little time in writing himself onto the record books, becoming only the second player to scalp over a 100 wickets in spite of making his debut after 30 (The other being Australian spinner Clarrie Grimmett).

In 33 Tests, Doshi went on to bag 114 wickets and by the time of his retirement, the control that he he had over his flight and turn had made him one of the most dangerous spinners in the business. At a time when the Indian national team was deprived of the services of its famed spin quartet, Doshi, along with Kapil Dev, became the leading force in Indian bowling.