Key points from article :
Professional sportsmen may live up to 13 percent longer than those in the general population.
The study from England and Wales is based on records over a 180-year-span.
Top-level cricketers, rugby union, golf and tennis players have greatest increases in life expectancy.
Between 1968 and 2020, Wimbledon male finalists experienced a 25% increase in longevity.
Boxers and jockeys are likely to live shorter lives.
Elite-level boxers living about 25% shorter lives than other top-level athletes.
Footballers are more likely to have shorter lives partly due to muddy pitches and heavier balls, increasing the risk of injuries.
Differences can be due to varied levels of risk of injury, socioeconomic status, education levels and leadership qualities.
"...timely report demonstrates all too clearly the benefits of sport, not just to our overall health, but also to our life expectancy," - Sir Brendan Foster, Founder of the Great North Run.
Report by the International Longevity Center UK and Cass Business School.
