“Driving” Miss Peggy – May 2018 Athlete of the Month

Peggy Birkenbuel, 79, Fairbanks, Alaska When athletes travel to the National Senior Games, they usually fly if the drive is more than a day or two. Not Peggy Birkenbuel, 79, who has driven her car two out of three times to The Games from…wait for it…Fairbanks, Alaska. “It takes me four days to get from

“Badminton- Straight from the Source” – April 2018 Athlete of the Month

Kamal Chaudhari, 83, Temple Terrace, Florida The game of badminton has been around for more than two thousand years, but it did not gain worldwide popularity as a competitive sport until 19th century British colonists found “Poona,” as it was called, in the city of Pune (pronounced the same) near Bombay, India. They brought it

Healing Waters

Cathy Cornell, 62, Bakersfield, California We all have challenges to face. The many senior athletes we have profiled in this program have encountered a wide range of situations, but they all point to a common truth: you have to find ways to deal with life’s obstacles to successfully pursue your Personal Best. For some, these

“Super Hero” Still Practices What She Teaches” – March 2018 Athlete of the Month

Darcy McBride, 66, York, Nebraska Darcy McBride has more than 6,000 blessings to count. The Nebraska native retired from a 28-year physical education career in York public schools eight years ago, but until last year she continued to practice her passion – training youngsters how to swim. Last year, when she finally stepped away from

Father and Daughter Keep Each Other “Running for Life” – February 2018 Athlete of the Month

Rod McGregor, 61, Hudson, Ohio There’s a saying that “children give you a second chance at life.” Rod McGregor agrees, since he was inspired by his daughter to get back on the track again after 30 years. A current resident of Hudson, Ohio, Rod loved running in high school, and chalked up league championships in

A Newbie at 95

Mary Kemp, 95, Boca Raton, Florida   The National Senior Games Association has a core mission to promote health and wellness to people over 50. We are constantly reminding people to get moving and find ways to stay active, and that Senior Games offer an exciting and rewarding option to go beyond basic exercise. Our

Finding a New Course of Action

Mike Stacks, 52, Birchwood, Tennessee When Mike Stacks crossed the finish line with the top overall time for the triathlon-by more than two minutes-at the 2017 National Senior Games presented by Humana, it caused a double-take among many longtime competitors. Who was that guy? How was he able to eat up those hills and leave

“I’m just another grateful athlete”

Carol Klenfner, 72, New York City, New York Carol Klenfner knows it’s only table tennis, but she likes it. With age, everyone has a story to tell, but we suspect only Carol can say she’s been in the world of rock and roll, and now rocks out playing table tennis in the National Senior Games.

“Second Chance at a Dream” – January 2018 Athlete of the Month

Liz Sharp, 70, Monroe, Louisiana Liz Sharp has always believed in giving second chances, and has witnessed it many times as a personal assistant and administrative consultant with pastors in North Louisiana over the past 32 years. She put that belief into action with her own ministry that has operated a rooming house in Monroe

“The Long and Short of Bob Lida” – December 2017 Athlete of the Month

Bob Lida, 81, Wichita, Kansas One of the names that appears repeatedly in National Senior Games track & field sprint records is Bob Lida. His name also appears next to age division world records and other high marks in masters track events, which has landed the Kansas native in the USA Track & Field Hall