The ageless Jaromir Jagr is back on the ice, training for another season of pro hockey in Czechia.
Decades ago, professional athletes played until their mid-to-late 30s and then retired. In the 21st century, training and a healthy lifestyle are key components to prolonging someone's career, like Tom Brady, who played in the NFL until he was 45.
On the other side of the globe from Pittsburgh, the NHL's second all-time leading scorer, Jaromir Jagr, is gearing up for another season of pro hockey, skating with the Rytířì Kladno, the team he owns in Czechia.
Last season, the then 51-year-old played in 15 games and had four assists.
For those keeping track at home, Jagr, who turned 52 in February, is about to begin his 35th season of pro hockey, which started in 1988-89 with TJ Kladno.
In 24 NHL seasons, Jagr accumulated 1,921 points thanks to 766 goals and 1,155 assists. He ranks second in points behind Wayne Gretzky while remaining fourth in goals and fifth in assists.
Early in 2024, the Penguins, who drafted Jagr fifth overall in 1990, retired his iconic No. 68 jersey in a ceremony attended by many Hall of Famers like Mario Lemieux, Ron Francis, and Scotty Bowman.
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As a veteran of three decades of pro hockey, Jagr has skated in the NHL, the KHL, and the Olympics and has had several stints in Czechia.
Outside of his performances in international hockey representing his home country, Jagr has skated in over 2,200 games in organized hockey leagues, scoring over 950 goals, collecting over 1,400 assists, and having close to 2,400 career points.
Considering that Jagr owns Rytířì Kladno, he plays because he can and keeps skating for the fans. Of course, the next Olympics are around the corner in 2026, and the chance to play one more time may be what keeps Jagr laced up his skates.
Currently, the Hockey Hall of Fame is just waiting for him to play his last game before inducting him as arguably one of the greatest skaters of all time.