WHAT LAUREUS WORLD SPORTS ACADEMY MEMBERS SAY:
American track legend Micheal Johnson says: “Tom Brady, 44 years old now, still out there competing as well as he ever has. At that age it’s certainly impressive and then to win a Super Bowl for a new team, just makes it all the more impressive, so yes an amazing year for Tom Brady, switching over from playing with the Patriots for so many years to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At 44 years old, you know, most athletes have long since retired, or at a minimum their skills, even if they are fortunate enough to remain healthy, have deteriorated quite a bit, but for him he seems to have defied time and is still out there competing as well as he’s ever competed, which again is truly impressive.
“As a quarterback, yes you need to be athletic, but skill is a huge part of it. His ability to read defensive schemes, his ability to see things unfolding in real time and very quickly be able to react. He has a skill like none other in that position so it certainly helps him as an athlete, as a quarterback, to be able to rely more on that skill, which is off the charts, and have to rely less on athleticism.
“When you’re in a sport and in a position that you know, it certainly lends itself to being able to compete longer like Tom Brady’s been able to do. If you’re a sprinter, you’re not able to do that. It’s probably 70% athleticism, 30% trying to figure out what move to make next. Being an NFL quarterback is probably 70% that knowledge and skill and 30% athleticism. If he’s got a horrible offensive line, like some other teams in the NFL, then he’s having to run for his life every snap and that doesn’t work when you’re 44 years old.”
