That said, nobody pretends that 50yr old fighter pilots will beat a 25yr old.
Tourist,
That's because as a 25 y/o you're generally eager, unpredictable, usually single, full of testosterone and haven't recognised your own mortality yet.
At 50 the testosterone has settled down, so have you, you are more predictable, and you recognise doing Mach 2 down a canyon at night in IMC isn't that great an idea.
That recognition is called "experience".
There is nothing wrong with young pilots or inexperienced pilots, we were all one once, but to say they are better than high time guys on average is complete Bulls#!t.