Sport: The generational gap in practice according to Strava

In 2023, over 120 million athletes on Strava pushed their limits, found motivation, and hit trails, roads, gyms, swimming lanes, and tracks in record numbers. Strava, the world’s largest online sports community, today unveils its 2023 figures. Taken as a whole, this data illustrates the trends that have shaped the world of physical exercise and exploration.

Source: Press Release

This year, Strava noted significant differences between generations in their sports practices, from activity slots to types of practice, as well as objectives.

Ride or Run, They Chose

Gen Z athletes were almost twice as likely to upload running activities as cycling activities. This trend reverses with age: baby boomers were twice as likely to upload cycling activities.

Quick and Efficient

Gen Z recorded the fastest median pace in running and cycling on Strava, but this age group also recorded the shortest running activities and ranks 2nd for the shortest cycling activities.

To Each Their Own Schedule

Generation X Leads the Way

Generation X leads the pack when it comes to winning King and Queen Of the Mountain titles and Course Records, which are the overall best times on Strava segments, these predetermined stretches of road or trail where athletes can compete against each other. Baby boomers hold second place, and Gen Z still has work to do: they are half as likely as Gen X to be at the top of the rankings.

Gen Z Commutes by Bike

17% of daily bike commutes on Strava were recorded by Gen Z in 2023, compared to 8% five years ago. Millennials represented the dominant share of daily bike users, while Gen X’s share saw the largest decrease since 2019.

Gen Z Chases Glory

Strava athletes from Gen Z are 31% less likely to exercise primarily for their health than their Millennial or Gen X counterparts. They are, however, more inclined to exercise for sports performance.

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