Catch Me If You Can

Catch Me If You Can – Harold Bach, 96, Bismarck, North Dakota People have always had trouble keeping up with Harold Bach. At 96, the North Dakotan should have earned a dictionary entry under the word “active” by now. He’s pretty fast on the track too, and has been a fixture at the National Senior

Standing Up to MS

Standing Up to MS – Eleanor Pendergraft, 80, Johnson City, Tennessee Eight years ago, Eleanor Pendergraft pondered her fate. She had been disabled for 25 years with multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord. A walker, wheelchair or motorized scooter was her only means of getting around. Her neurologist said

A Personal Best Life

A Personal Best Life – Tom Lough, 73, Round Rock, Texas Tom Lough is, by his own estimation, a man who does not possess special skills or talents, athletic or otherwise. How, then, does he explain a life of accomplishments that includes competing in Modern Pentathlon at age 26 in the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico

The Sense of Success

The Sense of Success – Marika Vorosmarty-Blumerick, 71 Shelby Township, Michigan While all Senior Games athletes strive to perform at their best, the reasons vary as to what motivates them. Some still have the burning desire to win and earn medals, while others seek to maintain health and vitality, to set goals, to measure and

“There’s Gratitude in My Attitude” – February 2016 Athlete of the Month

Luise Easton, 77, Olmsted Falls, Ohio Luise Easton was no stranger to the triathlon when she got the notion to give it another go in 2008. “I did them years ago, but then I had several foot surgeries. I didn’t do another one for 20 years,” the former high school physical education teacher recalls. After

“Buzzing Along” – January 2016 Athlete of the Month

Buzz Gagne, 68, Concord, New Hampshire The most publicized event of the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana was the heated battle of javelins between centenarians John Zilverberg and Fred Winters, which was seen on The Today Show and on numerous media websites. While noteworthy, the cameras did not catch a younger athlete setting

“State-to-State Recovery” – December 2015 Athlete of the Month

Mike Devaney, 65, Miami, Arizona Mike Devaney only started his career as a track and race walking senior athlete last year, but his face is rapidly becoming as familiar as any of his more experienced peers. That’s because Mike, who went through a serious health scare in 2014, is acting on an inspiration to go

“Wait to Worry”

“Wait to Worry” – Ryan Beighley, 90, The Villages, Florida Most of us can (or one day will) point to a moment or experience that brings about a profound change. When you ask 90-year-old Ryan Beighley what has motivated him to keep running and swimming through his life, the decorated World War II veteran has

Clearwater, Florida

The 2015 Florida Senior Games began with an awards ceremony to honor their 2014 Games Athletes of the Year, Walt Deal and Danuta Kubelik. Both are past National Senior Games competitors. Also at the ceremony was State Representative Kathleen Peters, second from right and City of Clearwater Government Mayor, George Cretekos. It was the first

“Swimming With Piranhas” – November 2015 Athlete of the Month

Rosemary Sexton, 65 Kingsport, Tennessee For Rosemary Sexton, returning home to Kingsport, Tennessee with two swimming medals from the 2015 National Senior Games presented by Humana “was right up there with my wildest expectations considering the level of competition.” She had only started training a few years ago, but her efforts resulted with a bronze