I always like to throw these examples out there when someone brings up the age issue...

Kent Bostick made the U.S. Olympic team at the age of 43....after beating the reigning world champion(who was 27) in the individual pursuit during the Olympic trials.

Amy Smolens writes...
"1996 Olympic Trials Men's Individual Pursuit Final. Mike McCarthy vs Kent Bostick. McCarthy was 27 years old . He raced for and had been supported by the US National Team and had their pricey state-of-the-art "Superbike" - a clear favorite. Bostick was approaching 43, racing for Team Shaklee, not the highest budget team - a clear underdog if there ever was one. The enviable job of cameraman Scott Ogle and me was to supplement the actual race coverage by shooting the coaches giving the racers splits, getting the reactions, etc. We spent most of the time on McCarthy's side, with US National Team coach Craig Griffin, since McC was the prohibitive favorite... but as time went on and Scott and I looked up at the split times on the scoreboard we had the sense we were in for a big upset. At one point we looked at the scoreboard, looked at each other, and tore across the infield as fast as we could to the other side. Bostick's coach, Mark Whitehead, was going absolutely nuts yelling splits to Kent... As you probably know, Bostick pulled the huge upset and was as excited as a kid in a candy store about finally qualifying for the Olympics after all his years of trying!! It was an electric moment for me and Scott, and was actually one of the most exciting sports moments I've ever experienced."....Amy Smolens

Kent is still racing and winning Master's races...now in his 50's.

P.S...I'm 37 and plan to do my first master's nationals in 2006....going for a podium in the time-trial.