Sport

This as-told-to essay is based on an in-person interview with Neil Stubley, head of courts and horticulture at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, home of the Wimbledon tennis championships. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I'm not very religious. But at 11:30 a.m. on a blue-sky day in Bali, Indonesia, I sent up a prayer to the Boeing 787 roaring above my patch of waves: Singapore Airlines, please, please take me with you.

What does it take to become an athlete at 70, 80, or even 90? Five older Americans prove that it's never too late to start and that exercising "is the most powerful drug for longevity." They've set goals, built community, and found purpose through sports such as swimming, track, table tennis, and powerlifting.