Age Is Just A Number

Sport can be played by anyone. This applies to any condition that one may suffer from. Participation in sports has evolved so much that even a blind person can play a sport. Yet, one aspect that hasn't been adressed is age. Research has shown that participation among the elderly community can be beneficial.

Joanna Child made history by debuting for Portugal’s women’s cricket team at 64 and 181 days, proving that age is no barrier to international sport. This took place on 7 April 2025.

Child surpassed Falkland Islands' Andrew Brownlee (62 years and 145 days) and Cayman's Mally Moore (62 years and 25 days) to move into second place on the all-time list. She now only trails Gibraltar’s Sally Barton, who debuted at the age of 66 years and 334 days.

Although her debut saw a quiet performance - scoring just 2 runs before dismissal - Portugal managed to defend their 110-run target to clinch a win. Joanna was retained in the Playing XI for both the second and third T20Is, helping her team secure a 2-1 series win over Norway.

Aside from this series, Joanna has no other recorded competitive appearances, yet fans across social media have showered her with praise for her inspiring, ageless milestone. Joanna was part of a dynamic Portuguese squad that featured a notable age range. The team also included 15-year-old, Ishreet Cheema, 16-year-old, Mariam Waseem and 16-year-old, Afsheen Ahmed; creating a unique blend of youth and experience.

Over the series, Joanna contributed with 2 runs in the opening match and bowled four deliveries in which she conceded 11 runs. Despite the modest numbers, her achievement struck a chord with fans, who hailed her courage and competitive spirit.

The list of oldest women cricketers

• Sally Barton (Gibraltar) - 66 years and 334 days
• Joanna Child (Portugal) - 64 years and 181 days
• Mally Moore (Cayman Islands) - 62 years and 25 days
• Marcia Moiten (Cayman Islands) - 58 years and 192 days
• Philippa Stahelin (Guernsey) - 58 years and 33 days

The health benefits of physical activity, specifically for older adults, have been comprehensively researched. For older adults, physical activity can be beneficial for physical, mental and social health. Besides the health benefits of regular participation, other aspects of participation among older adults have also been reviewed (Jenkin, Eime, Westerbeek, O'Sullivan & Van Uffelen, 2017).

Previous systematic reviews on physical activity in this population group have, for example, focused on: the physical health risks involved in participation; the differences between determinants of physical activity and exercise; whether older adults are meeting the recommended physical activity participation levels; the health benefits; strong social networks and the effect of physical activity in alleviating depression in older adults (Jenkin, Eime, Westerbeek, O'Sullivan & Van Uffelen, 2017).

Although the health benefits of generic physical activity have been extensively researched for older adults, there's little research on sport as a form of leisure-time physical activity for this population group. This limited research has largely focused on Masters/Senior Games sport participation or on specific sports, such as bowls, golf, curling or lifeball rather than general community sport (Jenkin, Eime, Westerbeek, O'Sullivan & Van Uffelen, 2017) .

As the determinants of participation may vary for different forms of exercise, specific research for older adults and general community sport participation is required. In this review, community sport is defined as “a human activity capable of achieving a result requiring physical exertion and/or physical skill which, by its nature and organisation, is competitive and is generally accepted as being a sport" (Jenkin et al., 2017).

Deriving benefits of physical activity can influence continuation of participation. In sport, there have been a number of systematic reviews examining the concept of sport being beneficial for health for younger age groups but not specifically for older adults; who may have different health outcomes. Therefore, with the expected declining health of an ageing population, it's important to investigate the determinants of initiating and continuing sport participation for older adults, to diversify the physical activity options available to this age group.

It is noteworthy that a recent narrative literature review (Jenkins et al., 2017, cited, Dionigi, 2016) identified that whilst there can be numerous psycho-social benefits for some older adults who play sport, sport is a multi-faceted concept and as such, the socio-cultural contexts of older adults’ participation in sport needs to be considered (as the determinants of participation may vary for different forms of exercise; specific research for older adults and general community sport participation is required (Jenkin et al., 2017).

Sport is often undertaken at community sport clubs and given the social nature of club-based sport, engaging older adults in sport may positively contribute to their physical, mental and social health. However, few older adults participate regularly in organised sport (Jenkin et al., 2017).

Health was the most frequently reported determinant for older adults’ participation in sport and there were two contrasting sub-themes: health as a positive outcome of sport participation and physical health as a limitation to participation in sport.

There were six studies (one quantitative and five qualitative) which found that improved health was a positive outcome of sport participation. These articles reported that participants in Masters/Senior Games sport competitions and also in community sport clubs felt that participating in sport had assisted their physical mental or psychological and/or social health. However, there were three studies (two quantitative and one qualitative) that reported that poor physical health limited the ability of older adults to participate in sport (Jenkin et al., 2017).

Negotiating the ageing process through sport was the next most frequently mentioned theme, which was highlighted in the qualitative studies only. This theme also had two sub-themes: positive ageing discourse and negotiating negative stereotypes of ageing (Jenkin et al., 2017).

Developing a positive ageing discourse through sport was discussed by participants across many different studies. For example, older adults reinforced their social identity through participating in sport, used sport to differentiate themselves from non-active older adults or used sport as a mechanism to transform their identity from an ageing older adult to a competitive athlete (Jenkin et al., 2017).

Two studies reported that participants used sport to negotiate the negative stereotypes of ageing. In one study, participants celebrated that their behaviour challenged age-appropriate norms and disassociated themselves from the aged stereotype. Furthermore, several studies reported that sport was a purposeful and meaningful activity for older adults, whilst one study suggested that although their participants didn't deny they were ageing, sport enabled them to resist their ageing body, which empowered them to enjoy playing sport for as long as they physically could (Jenkin et al., 2017).

Using sport as a tool to develop a social/community connection for older adults was a common theme amongst three of the qualitative studies, with two sub-themes emerging: using sport for the development and maintenance of community engagement for older adults and using sport to foster social connections (Jenkin et al., 2017).

Two studies reported participant discussions of volunteering through sport or ‘giving back’ to the community. For example, one study suggested that supporting local sport clubs was seen as a way for older adults to support rural life/their local community, whilst another study reported that volunteering or coaching enabled participants to feel they had some influence or purpose in their sport. For others, participating in a mega event provided an opportunity to develop a sense of collective community through competition and friendship (Jenkin et al., 2017).

The concept that sport can be used to foster social connections was discussed in two articles, one at a community sport club and one at a large sporting event. A study conducted in rural Canada suggested that playing curling could foster social connections and decrease social loneliness, whilst a study in Australia proposed that participants developed feelings of belonging and membership with other participants through having a common interest in a particular sport (Jenkin et al., 2017).

There are various sports that can benefit the elderly. Swimming is one of the most popular and most beneficial sports for older people. Thanks to the natural buoyancy and resistance of water, it’s a low-impact sport that allows you to exercise all your muscle groups (Monarch Landing, 2023).

Seniors with mobility issues can safely exercise without worrying about falls and individuals with arthritis or other musculoskeletal issues can work their joints easily and without pain. Swimming helps maintain muscle mass, improves flexibility, helps maintain balance, and can provide moderate aerobic activity – in short, it’s an all-star sport for seniors (Monarch Landing, 2023).

Walking is an easy way to stay active, an excellent way to build bone health, improve your cardiovascular health, maintain balance and stay healthy overall (Monarch Landing, 2023).

As the Red Queen asks, "Do you play croquet?" If you don’t, you’re missing out on an excellent sport that gets you outdoors, is a fun way to socialise and is also a good exercise. Croquet can improve hand-eye coordination, flexibility and a slight amount of balance. While it’s not a hugely intense workout, it does require problem-solving, making it a good way to keep your little gray cells working while also doing some physical activity (Monarch Landing, 2023).

Tai chi combines slow, gentle movement with a meditative focus, making it a great low-impact sporting activity. The intentional movements don’t require you to "push" yourself, so it’s an excellent option for improving flexibility, muscle strength and balance without overly stressing your body. Tai chi can be done outside or inside, alone or in a group, requires no fancy equipment and is an excellent activity for reducing heart disease (Monarch Landing, 2023).

Like Tai chi, yoga is a practice that combines physical, emotional and mental wellness. Yoga has become incredibly popular for all age groups due to its versatility – it can range from meditative and gentle to a rigorous, physically intense practice. When done multiple times a week, yoga improves your core strength, improves balance (helping reduce the risk of falling), reduces stress and helps you maintain a healthy mental state (Monarch Landing, 2023).

Traditional net-and-ball games like tennis or badminton can sometimes be too fast-paced for older adults. Pickleball combines the elements of tennis, pingpong and badminton for a fun sport that’s an all-ages team sport. It’s played on a slightly smaller court than tennis, meaning you will still work up a sweat without the risk of injury. Pickleball has become hugely popular in the past few years (Monarch Landing, 2023).

Dancing provides a great full-body workout that’s also a fun social activity. Besides improving your heart health by boosting your heart rate, it boosts energy levels, improves mood, helps maintain balance and can be a great source of laughter (which, as we all know, is the best form of medicine).(Monarch Landing, 2023).

Lawn bowls (or lawn bowling) are a fantastic combination of competition, exercise and social enjoyment. This sport helps boost balance, increases muscle strength, and adds a good jolt of cardiovascular activity to your day (Monarch Landing, 2023).

Playing golf provides a wide variety of benefits: improving range of motion, boosting blood circulation, maintaining balance and (of course) providing great socialisation opportunities. It’s not the most high-impact sport out there but with all the walking (especially if you forgo a golf cart), you’ll be surprised at how much energy you actually expend (Monarch Landing, 2023).

Walking soccer is a great exercise that combines the social and physical benefits of soccer without the running. It’s played just like regular soccer without any headbutts, overly fancy footwork, or diving for the ball – making it perfect for active seniors who thrive on competition (Monarch Landing, 2023).

The information above is proven evidence that sport participation can be helpful for all ages. There's no such thing as an age limit for sport. I, myself, hope that I'm still active when I'm old. I do a lot of walking which helps with cognitive thinking and assists in physically staying fit. I fear that my mind and body might turn to mush if I bring that to a halt. I never want that to happen.

Reference List

Eime, R.M., Jenkin, C.R., O'Sullivan, G., van Uffelen, J.G.Z. & Westerbeek, H. 'Sport and ageing: a systematic review of the determinants and trends of participation in sport for older adults'. BMC Public Health, 17(976). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4970-8.

Monarch Landing. (2023). The Best Sports for Seniors. Available from: https://www.welcometomonarchlanding.com/blog/best-sports-for-seniors/ (Accessed: 12 April 2025).