Herman Kelly, 67, Baton Rouge, Louisiana You can talk about skill, physical ability and focus as key elements needed to be a successful athlete at any age. One also needs the intangible boost and motivation that comes from having a passion for your sport to see it through. Herman Kelly’s passion for swimming goes much

Joyce Jones, 91, Seattle, Washington Joyce Jones has compiled an admirable athletic record by winning more than her share of championships in three racket sports over seven decades. She can’t even guess how many medals and tournaments she has won in badminton, tennis and pickleball, because her focus has been more on the pursuit of

Ray Tingstrom, 78, Colorado Springs, Colorado Mick Tingstrom, 54, Woodbridge, Virginia “It’s like a family” is a phrase commonly heard among Senior Games athletes to describe their feeling of connection with others pursuing the same goals to live active and healthy lives. There are real family ties when a son or daughter decides to follow

Vince  Obsitnik, 83, Peachtree City, Georgia People become role models to those around them when they join the Senior Games Movement. In a way, all senior athletes are ambassadors for active, healthy aging. But there’s only one athlete we know who has actually officially served our country as an ambassador – runner Vince Obsitnik, who

Hollyce Kirkland, 100, Sevierville, Tennessee The match was set. The anticipated “Battle of the Centenarians” had created a buzz in Albuquerque at the 2019 National Senior Games presented by Humana. Media lined up to cover the 50-meter race between 103-year-old Julia “Hurricane” Hawkins and upstart Hollyce Kirkland, who had just reached triple digits. When the

Simeon Gipson, 74, Tahlequah, Oklahoma A highlight of “Indian Day” activities held during the 2019 National Senior Games presented by Humana in Albuquerque was a live national broadcast of public radio’s Native America Calling. During the hour-long program, Oklahoma cyclist Simeon Gipson, who is half Cherokee and half Choctaw, captured the audience with his story and

Kate Fisken, 77, Bethesda, Maryland People who know Kate Fisken say she has a heart as big as the ocean. Perhaps that’s why she swims, but it’s really a statement reflecting on the retired Maryland accountant’s lifelong commitment to serve others, which dates back to when President Kennedy called on citizens to do “what you

 “Mr. Impossible” Andy Steinfeldt, 71, Minnetonka, Minnesota People are realizing how much more they can do and achieve in the second half of their lives, and that applies to every senior athlete who is challenging aging stereotypes. When we see stories about Senior Games athletes doing unexpected and sometimes extreme things, we take notice.  In

Bonnie Coleman, 64, Bernalillo, New Mexico “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” ― Winston S. Churchill When we asked New Mexico Senior Olympics to recommend a female athlete who exemplifies the journey to persevere through obstacles and challenges to enjoy their own optimum health and