Miami Photographer
TONIGHT: Reminders About Celebration of Athletes
It’s almost time to salute your incredible achievements at the Celebration of Athletes. The 2023 COA will be hosted by the Pittsburgh Pirates today, July 14, with on-field recognition and the Parade of Athletes taking place prior to the Pirates vs. San Francisco Giants game.
A few important things to know before you go:
- Staging for the Parade of Athletes begins at 5 p.m. in the cul-de-sac at the end of Mazeroski Way on the Southwest side of PNC Park. Athletes must be staged by 5:30 p.m.
- Don’t forget your credential! Athletes must wear their credentials to participate in the Parade of Athletes.
- Find shuttle schedules and maps here.
More details and a link to event FAQs can be found here. Don’t miss it!
Allwyn is “All Win” For Tennis
A recent recipient of the Humana Game Changer Award, Allwyn Chao inspires tennis players of all ages.
It all started with the people who believed in him first. At age 13, Chao’s mother handed him his first racquet.
“I didn’t run too fast because my mother told me I have two left feet,” Chao says. “So I ended up playing tennis.”
Chao got a taste of the competition world when his high school recreation director pushed him to participate in a tournament.
“When I turned 16, the recreation director said, ‘You know what, I enrolled you in a tennis tournament at Golden Gate Park, why don’t you just go out there and play?’” Chao says.
Chao went on to win that tournament, and the one after that. With success came growing confidence.
“Kids that I did not know recognized me and said, ‘Oh yeah, you're the guy that plays tennis!’ They knew me from that [tournament],” Chao recounts.
When Chao moved from Hong Kong to the United States at age 11, he says he leaned on the confidence built from tennis because he spoke little English.
Turning 80 soon, Chao says the exercise that he gets from tennis is a huge part of why he continues to play.
“It helps me mentally as well as physically,” Chao explains. “It’s been my lifetime sport. I look forward to playing tennis every day. If I don’t get the chance to play, I feel like something is missing.”
This year at the National Senior Games, Chao is competing with a new partner that he’s never played with before.
“He doesn’t know how I play doubles, and I don’t know how he plays doubles, so we’re going to have to try our best,” Chao says. “We hope to do well, and we hope to win gold.”
-By Kanney Wong and Maya Valletta
