Be Your Personal Best…FOR LIFE!
There’s another definition of “personal best” that anyone can achieve. It’s not about a peak time or distance in sports; it’s about overcoming obstacles, staying motivated throughout your life and inspiring others by your example. This results in greater longevity and a healthy, active lifestyle – and that is your Personal Best!
Click Here to learn more about the purpose of the Personal Best health and wellness initiative.
Use the search box to find athletes by name or year of feature.
Family Matters
Hope Casias, 76, San Antonio, Texas Sports offers the individual many rewards through setting goals, training and competition. It provides exercise with a purpose, and brings the added benefit of camaraderie among athletes who share the same experiences. Team sports provide an even deeper connection and the added satisfaction that comes from working together. For
- Published in 2019 PB, Personal Best Featured Athletes
Love Finds A Way to Hit the Mark
Ron Gauvin, 60 & Patti Gauvin, 58, Milton, New Hampshire When Ron Gauvin enters an archery competition, it’s quickly noticed that something special is going on beyond shooting arrows. Despite balance challenges and a paralyzed right arm, Ron manages to get to the line and let fly using a stabilizer bar and a special strap attached
- Published in 2019 PB, Personal Best Featured Athletes
A Message of Hope
Don Wright, 78, Stillwater, Minnesota Don Wright is literally running for his life. The Minnesota native enjoyed many successful years as an engineer, attorney and father of three. He ran cross country in high school, but career demands kept him from regular exercise and his weight grew as he approached 60. His brother-in-law and wife
- Published in 2019 PB, Personal Best Featured Athletes
“If you don’t move it, you will rust”
Amy Hicks, 85, Needham, Massachusetts All athletes have aches and injuries that inevitably come with athletic competition, and that is especially true for senior athletes over an extended time. Some, like Amy Hicks, have also had to overcome medical challenges that often bring careers to an end, but she has learned to persevere and even
- Published in 2018 PB, Personal Best Featured Athletes
“Pickleball Saved My Life”
Dick Johnson, 78, Boise, Idaho When pickleball players see Dick Johnson’s name on their match bracket, they know they are in for a challenge. That’s because Dick’s resume includes twice medaling in all seven recognized national and world championships in one year and racking up close to 200 medals -mostly gold- in these majors and
- Published in 2018 PB, Personal Best Featured Athletes
Jumping for Joy
Chuck Milliman, 85, Phil Milliman, 66, Sequim, Washington As the saying goes, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. In Washington state, the Milliman family tree has produced a bushel of positive minded and active people, including Chuck and Phil, father and son gold medalists in National Senior Games pole vaulting. Chuck Milliman, a retired
- Published in 2018 PB, Personal Best Featured Athletes
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
- Published in 2018 PB, Personal Best Featured Athletes
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
- Published in 2018 PB, Personal Best Featured Athletes
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
- Published in 2018 PB, Personal Best Featured Athletes
“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.
- Published in 2018 PB, Personal Best Featured Athletes