Rick Parschen, 69, Strongsville, Ohio A 300 game is the dream of all bowlers, and most never achieve it. Rick Parschen has hit the mark many times, including posting a 300 score while raking in medals in each of his three appearances in National Senior Games since 2015. Just how many does he have? “As

De Shann Schinkel, 57, Rawlins, Wyoming Many senior athletes have used “midlife crisis” to create midlife opportunities by starting or returning to competitive sports. After dealing with the difficult loss of both parents in her early 50’s, De Shann Schinkel got back into the game and could not have dreamed where it would take her

Tim Jenkins, 70, Louisville, Kentucky Tim Jenkins is in awe about how his life has turned around since he found Senior Games in 2018. At the time he had been homeless after decades of misfortune. “I was really homeless for most of my life,” he says. “Just because a house has four walls and a

Louise Jones, 77, San Marino, California When Louise Jones found Senior Games basketball in 2010, she had already recently overcome a bout with breast cancer. She was looking forward, enjoying the active life traveling and competing with her Cougars Gold team through four National Senior Games. Then came the bad news. “I was disease free

Gary Bertelsen , 75, Westerville, OH Gary Bertelsen figures he has good sports genes. His brother Jim played football for the Texas Longhorns and for another five years in the NFL. He walked on the track team at the University of Wisconsin.     When told he would be getting scholarship, he trained as hard as he

Kathy Bergen, 81, La Canada, California It’s hard to keep up with elite track and field star Kathy Bergen, whether it’s her competitors or the statisticians. She was the most decorated athlete at the National Senior Games in Albuquerque in 2019, chalking up three American and five National Senior Games records. After nine appearances, Kathy’s

Patrick Bohan, 57, Buena Vista, Colorado Some senior athletes have to adapt to medical conditions and disabilities to compete, and most will tell you their activity is helping to keep their situation under control. When someone facing extreme challenges performs well enough to earn medals, the accomplishments are even more impressive. “I should be needing

Juanita Gonzalez, 82, Los Angeles, California Juanita Gonzalez found a midlife love for running 28 years ago, awakening her competitive spirt and a goal to always win her age group. Since then, “Speedy G” has been rewarded with Gold Medals in 72 road races. Ironically, it was a 2nd place finish at the 2015 National