If someone starts powerlifting in their early to late 20s, compared to the exact same person beginning in their early teens (12-15) instead, will they make less overall lifetime progress than if they had begun in their early teens?
I’m aware that if one starts training over 50 for example they will likely not attain the same peak strength they could have achieved if they began some decades earlier. But is there a meaningful difference between the same individual beginning training at 14 vs 24?
I ask because I just recently began training at 25 a few months back, and eventually plan on competing at some point. But a few articles from folks online and my own nagging thoughts from time to time make me think that because I began at 25 instead of 15 for example, I may not be able to achieve the same amount of peak strength by the end as if I would have if I began earlier because of the decade late start.
So is there any truth to that? Will the 25 year old version end up with less overall strength than the one that began as an early teen? Or will the one that began in 20s eventually catch up to the teen starter and end up with similar levels of strength by the end of their lifting career? Another way I could frame this question is if we look at some top level PLers who started as teenagers such as Austin Perkins, would they still end up with similar levels of strength if they began in their 20s instead of as teens by the time they hit their peak, or would they be weaker?
Also, thanks for your episodes on testosterone found you guys from those, I went down a rabbit hole and was convinced by some peeps online that I may need TRT soon, but you guy’s video changed my mind on it, so it was valuable.