An age grouper is an amateur competitor who races against other amateurs in their age group, such as Men 35–39. They compete against their age-mates, not professionals. Age groupers strive for their personal best times, age-group wins, and qualification for the Olympics or the World Championships.
Age-group competitions promote an equitable and encouraging environment by grouping athletes of similar life stages together. For triathletes such as those who compete in cycling, running, and swimming, age-groupers are divided into 5- or 10-year age brackets (e.g., 30–34, 35–39) in order to award age-group results and decide championship qualification in elite competitions. Training is in balance with these age-group athletes’ performance goals and the normal work, family, and rest requirements of amateur athletes. Age-graded performance tables are used by some in order to compare their performance from age to age, as well as optimize their pacing. Competition in such events fosters community, camaraderie, and long-term motivation, as athletes compare their progress within their group and mark key accomplishments such as age-group national championships or international-qualifying milestones.
