Olympic medallists lived an average of 2.8 years longer than the general population, with a relative conditional survival of 1.08 (95% CI 1.07-1.10) at 30 years after winning.
Cohort (n=15,174)
Yes
Do Olympic medallists live longer than the general population?
Olympic medallists have a significant survival advantage over the general population, living an average of 2.8 years longer.
Effect estimate: Relative conditional survival 1.08 (95% CI 1.07-1.10)
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Olympic medallists live longer than the general population. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study, with passive follow-up and conditional survival analysis to account for unidentified loss to follow-up. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: 15,174 Olympic athletes from nine country groups (United States, Germany, Nordic countries, Russia, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada, and Australia and New Zealand) who won medals in the Olympic Games held in 1896-2010. Medallists were compared with matched cohorts in the general population (by country, age, sex, and year of birth). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Relative conditional survival. RESULTS: More medallists than matched controls in the general population were alive 30 years after winning (relative conditional survival 1.08, 95% confidence interval 1.07 to 1.10). Medallists lived an average of 2.8 years longer than controls. Medallists in eight of the nine country groups had a significant survival advantage compared with controls. Gold, silver, and bronze medallists each enjoyed similar sized survival advantages. Medallists in endurance sports and mixed sports had a larger survival advantage over controls at 30 years (1.13, 1.09 to 1.17; 1.11, 1.09 to 1.13) than that of medallists in power sports (1.05, 1.01 to 1.08). CONCLUSIONS: Olympic medallists live longer than the general population, irrespective of country, medal, or sport. This study was not designed to explain this effect, but possible explanations include genetic factors, physical activity, healthy lifestyle, and the wealth and status that come with international sporting glory.
Clarke et al. (2012) conducted a cohort in Olympic medallists (n=15,174). Olympic medallist status vs. Matched cohorts in the general population was evaluated on Relative conditional survival (Relative conditional survival 1.08, 95% CI 1.07-1.10). Olympic medallists lived an average of 2.8 years longer than the general population, with a relative conditional survival of 1.08 (95% CI 1.07-1.10) at 30 years after winning.