It was Show Me time as we joined the kickoff banquet for the 20th annual Missouri State Senior Games in Columbia. Jane Kaiser was the perfect selection to represent the Show Me State Personal Best because she is someone who walks the walk. Jane is still active as a clinical nurse and speaker, and has won many medals and ribbons in local, state and national senior competitions. But NSGA CEO Marc T. Riker explained that her story offers proof of the benefits gained from maintaining exercise, nutrition and preventative health practices throughout life. “At 65, Jane takes no medications and still pursues her career and an active lifestyle. She practices what she preaches,” he said. “Jane gives us all an example by her actions on and off the field to inspire others to be active and live longer, better quality lives.”

“Jane has not had to go through the kinds of extreme life obstacles of some of our other Personal Best athletes,” he continued. “But she’s had her own challenges, and those are the temptations of maybe not exercising, maybe not eating properly, and getting off target. She’s stayed on course, and has been an example and an inspiration for many others.”

Jane’s remarks were brief but thoughtful and heartfelt. “The Olympic Creed has always been a tremendous inspiration for me. It says the most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle. Every time I approach something I make it a mission to try to do it better than the last time. It’s a little bit harder now, but I try. It’s an ongoing process that ensures I’m always doing my Personal Best.” She then observed, “Living a healthy life is not a spectator sport. In order to live that life you must first choose to participate by being active and making good choices day to day.”

Ken Ash and Dave Fox of the Missouri State Senior Games surprised Jane with a special gift – a desk clock with a plaque commemorating the 20th anniversary of their senior games. They even made us feel at home by presenting us with the same memento and some nice words of appreciation.

We were also pleased to have Kathleen Faulk, Humana’s Vice President for Senior Products, join the program to congratulate Jane and to express how NSGA’s and Humana’s missions are aligned. “Seeing seniors like Jane who have made a life of focusing on their health and taking accountability for their own well being is very inspirational,” Faulk said. “Humana is transforming itself from just being an insurance company to being a partner to promote health care that results in lifelong well being. Supporting the National Senior Games is one way we are showing that.”

The next day we attempted to keep up with Jane as she scurried between the swimming and track venues taking on six scheduled events, and she qualified for each, setting up her journey to the 2015 National Senior Games Presented by Humana coming to Minnesota next July. We also visited softball, pickleball, bowling, volleyball and cycling events, handing out 2015 games information. We found enthusiastic athletes and cheerful volunteers at every stop. The Show Me State definitely showed us a good time!

What could be better than having an Olympic swimming legend attend an award presentation to honor an amateur Senior Games swimmer? John Naber, who dominated the 1976 Olympics with five medals, found a way.

NSGA honored 67 year old Vivian Stancil of Riverside with a Personal Best Award during the California State Senior Games athlete celebration at the Pasadena Senior Center. Vivian was a foster child who lost her sight at age 19, but persevered to become the first blind teacher in the Long Beach School System. When she retired, Vivian lost 125 pounds and became a competitive Senior Games swimmer. Read her inspiring profile on the Personal Best page for the rest of her incredible journey.

Naber expressed his personal admiration and then took it to the next level. “When you come out on the pool deck, there’s an attitude of joy that says ‘Anybody can do this, not just me.’ When we see where you have come from, you’ve inspired us all,” he told the gathering of 200 California Senior Games athletes and supporters. “I know you have 175

medals to your credit, but just for the next few minutes I would be honored if you would allow me to place one of my medals around your neck.”

Vivian, like the attendees, was emotional in her response. “This is so amazing. I’m so grateful. And to wear this medal – it’s really heavy! I just want to say whatever problems you have, you can get over them. I just want to go out in my community and tell seniors about health and fitness, and to get them to try Senior Games like I did.”

(Left to right) Naber, Vivian, Riker and California Senior Game’s Cynthia Rosedale

In addition to her remarkable achievements as a senior swimmer who has qualified and competed in the National Senior Games since 1995, NSGA CEO Marc T. Riker also noted Vivian’s ongoing community service as another reason for the recognition. In 2013 Stancil created The Vivian Stancil Olympian Foundation to assist at risk youth and seniors to participate in athletics, and was also recently named to the City of Riverside Commission on Disability.

Naber may have had the show-stopper with his Gold Medal tribute, but another equally remarkable thing happened when Vivian announced that one of her now grown early learning students, Devin Coulson, had traveled all the way from Euliss, Texas to testify to the early inspiration given by her teacher.

Vivian was also among 20 senior athletes who received grants for state games entry fees in a national essay contest hosted by Post Shredded Wheat earlier this year, and was formally awarded her grant during the ceremony. We also enjoyed comments of support by Dan Nazarek with Humana, who immediately connected with Vivian, explaining he was born in Riverside and still lives there.

We enjoyed great media coverage too. One week before the event, KABC -TV Eyewitness News in Los Angeles aired a feature about Vivian in their 5 pm telecast, and the story was also picked up by nearly a dozen other local ABC affiliates around the country. In addition, the L.A. Times plans to run a story after Vivian competes in the California games on June 22. Other community newspapers and online resources also publicized our presentation.