Fran Myer hold her arms up to triumphantly flex her muscles. She has three pickleball competition medals around her neck.

The Pickleball Pioneer: Fran Myer’s Unexpected Journey

October 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller Fran Myer, 78 Kenmore, Washington Some people just have a knack for falling into situations and finding themselves in the middle of history. When it comes to the early development of pickleball, Fran Myer shows up everywhere. “I’m the Forrest Gump of pickleball,” she

Two women compete in Power Walk at the National Senior Games. They are pictured mid-stride on a road.

Walking to Better Fitness

By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being “Walking is man’s best medicine” is a quote attributed to Hippocrates, the ancient Greek philosopher and father of Western medicine. Modern research agrees that getting your steps in brings many health benefits. Although fitness walking can enhance heart and lung efficiency and leg muscle strength,

Gary Yeager on a run outdoors in athletic clothing.

“Gary the Gazelle” Reinvents Himself

September 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller Gary Yeager, 75 Phoenix, Arizona Gary Yeager knows what to do with a curveball on a baseball field, being a natural athlete and playing through college. Perhaps this taught him to find opportunities when life threw some real curveballs at him. The West Virginia

Building Mental Skills for Better Sports Performance

By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being The impact of mental well-being on athletic performance was a popular topic during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, and the world’s best athletes continued to elevate this conversation during the recent Paris Olympics. Sports influence society, and Olympians spoke up about the importance of managing

Profile photo of Charles Mikell smiling and standing in front of an event banner at the 2022 National Senior Games.

Shuffleboard Will Never Get Old for This Man

August 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller Charles Mikell, 58 Mechanicsville, Virginia Charles Mikell says his favorite sport is shuffleboard, and that’s no act. Charles is 58 years old, which doesn’t fit the image many conjure up of senior citizens playing shuffleboard on cruise ships. Ironically, Charles has played shuffleboard on

Humana Announced as Presenting Sponsor of the 2025 National Senior Games

Media Contact: Mary Johns ne**@**ga.com (727) 510-9199 Humana Announced as Presenting Sponsor of the 2025 National Senior Games Move continues partnership established in 2007 with National Senior Games Association to encourage healthy lifestyles at every age CLEARWATER, Fla. – The National Senior Games Association (NSGA) announced Wednesday that health and well-being company Humana Inc. will

Woman carrying Olympic-style torch.

Senior Games Competition is Olympism at Its Best

By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being Qualifying trials for the 2024 Paris Olympics are complete, and the best athletes from around the globe will soon compete on the world stage. Also on display in Paris will be the three values of Olympism: excellence, respect and friendship. These are the building blocks

Headshot of Vincent Pearson smiling into the camera.

Surviving the Roller Coaster

By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist Dr. Vincent Pearson, 60 Owings Mills, Maryland Dr. Vincent Pearson has a long list of accomplishments and passions, highlighted by a busy career as a pharmacist and a solid family life. The successful bowler has won amateur events, earned Senior Games medals, bowled on a PBA regional tour and

Profile picture of Julie Summers. She is standing and smiling with an Iowa Senior Games medal around her neck.

The Accidental Triathlete

July 2024 Athlete of the Month By Del Moon, NSGA PR Specialist Julie Summers, 56 Windsor Heights, Iowa Until six years ago, Julie Summers had no idea she would become an athlete. It was never in her plans in her youth or as a busy professional and mother. Then, on a whim at age 50,

A woman in all pink athletic gear raises her hands above her head triumphantly after completing a 5K.

A Time to Train Well

How to Build a Training Plan for the 1 Mile Run By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being I recently signed up for a 5K run four weeks in advance. As a generally active person, I thought this would be enough time to prepare. I soon found out – it wasn’t. My