Physical activity is an important aspect of health behavior and life-style, when 
considering the possibilities to prevent premature deaths and sustain functional 
capacity. We studied former Finnish male athletes and controls to investigate 
the effects of long-lasting participation in vigorous sports on health, and the 
main findings are reviewed here. The athletes represented Finland between the 
years 1920-1965 at least once in international competitions. The following 
sports were selected: track and field athletics, cross-country skiing, soccer, 
ice hockey, basketball, boxing, wrestling, weight lifting, and shooting. The 
full name, place and date of birth were traced for 2613 (97.7%) men. The 
referent subjects (N = 1712) were selected among those Finnish men who, at the 
age of 20, were classified completely healthy at the medical examination for 
induction into military service. In most analyses we grouped the sports 
according to the type of training needed to achieve maximal results, i.e., 
principally aerobic training, principally anaerobic training or mixed. In 1985, 
a questionnaire on physical activity, health and health habits was mailed to 
surviving former athletes and referents (N = 2851, 65.9% of the original 
cohort). Follow-up for morbidity and mortality was based on national medical 
registries. We found that former aerobic sports athletes (endurance and mixed 
sports) in particular have high total and active life expectancy and low risk 
for ischemic heart disease and diabetes in later years. On the other hand, they 
have slightly higher risk for lower-limb osteoarthritis. Overall, the benefits 
of physically active life-style on health were clearly higher than the adverse 
effects.