SIGN IN YOUR ACCOUNT TO HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT FEATURES

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD?

FORGOT YOUR DETAILS?

AAH, WAIT, I REMEMBER NOW!
Contact Us: NSGA@NSGA.com
  • HOME
  • NSGA OFFICIAL STORE
  • PARTNERS
  • VOLUNTEER
  • DONATE TODAY
  • DESTINATIONS

National Senior Games Association

National Senior Games Association

The NSGA is a non-profit organization dedicated to motivating active adults to lead a healthy lifestyle through the senior games movement.

T (727) 475-1187
Email: NSGA@NSGA.com

National Senior Games Association
PO BOX 5630, Clearwater, FL 33758 USA

  • ABOUT
    • How to Get Involved
    • NSGA Showcase Video
    • History of the NSGA
    • Board of Directors
    • Team
    • Sports Chairs
    • National Games Awards
    • 30th Anniversary
    • FAQs
    • Contact Us
    • Career Opportunities
  • STATE GAMES
    • State Games Information
    • State Regions
    • Team Partner Finder
    • NSGA Award Winners
  • NATIONAL GAMES
    • How To Qualify
    • National Games Information
    • 2023 NSG Pittsburgh
    • NSG CUP
    • Registration
    • Athlete Check-In
    • Competition Schedules
    • Hotels & Lodging
    • Rules & Minimum Performance Standards
    • Results & Records
    • Special Events
    • Team Partner Finder
    • Tourist Information
    • Transportation & Parking
    • Venue Information
    • Volunteer for the Games
    • Limited Events Verification Form
    • National Senior Games Partners
    • Softball Championships
  • SPORTS
    • INDIVIDUAL SPORTS
      • Archery
      • Badminton
      • Bowling
      • Cornhole
      • Cycling
      • Golf
      • Pickleball
      • Powerwalk
      • Race Walk
      • Racquetball
      • Road Race
      • Shuffleboard
      • Swimming
      • Table Tennis
      • Tennis
      • Track & Field
      • Triathlon
    • NON-AMBULATORY SPORTS
      • Non-Ambulatory Bowling
      • Non-Ambulatory Cornhole
      • Non-Ambulatory Shuffleboard
    • TEAM SPORTS
      • Basketball
      • Soccer
      • Softball
      • Volleyball
  • HEALTH & WELL-BEING
    • Get In Shape With Ageility
    • Zibrio Health and Well-Being
    • Senior Athlete Fitness Exam (SAFE)
    • Heartline Study
    • Falls Prevention Resources
    • NSGA Steps Challenge
    • Exercise & Well-Being Resources
    • Humana Healthy Living and Prevention Resources
    • Fitness Videos
    • ACE Training Tips
    • NSGA Ambassador Program Activities
    • National Senior Games Partners
  • MEDIA
    • Photo Galleries
      • 2023 Softball Championships Photo Gallery
      • 2022 Photo Gallery
      • 2019 Photo Gallery
    • Games Videos
      • 2022 NSG Video Recap
      • 2019 NSG Video Recaps
    • #StayFitSeniors Athlete Videos
    • Senior Games Blogs & Podcasts
    • Games Daily News Archives
      • 2022 Games Daily News
      • 2019 Games Daily News
      • 2017 Games Daily News
    • Archived Press Releases
    • Newsletter
    • Press Room
    • Athlete of the Month
    • Personal Best Features
REGISTER
NOW!
 May 28, 2023

“State-to-State Recovery” – December 2015 Athlete of the Month

“State-to-State Recovery” – December 2015 Athlete of the Month

by Del Moon / Wednesday, 16 December 2015 / Published in Athlete of the Month

Mike Devaney, 65, Miami, Arizona

Mike Devaney only started his career as a track and race walking senior athlete last year, but his face is rapidly becoming as familiar as any of his more experienced peers. That’s because Mike, who went through a serious health scare in 2014, is acting on an inspiration to go to the 2017 National Senior Games presented by Humana, and to compete in as many qualifying games as he can get to along the way. He has already made it to 12 states this year, and has 16 more on his 2016 calendar.

Two years ago, the 65-year-old was still pursuing a successful career designing and building casinos and hotels, but it was also a fast-paced and stressful life. The Seattle native ran cross country and middle distance track events in high school and earned athlete of the year honors at Green River College, but sports fell off the radar when he went to work.

“I came back and ran some 5Ks at 36, but after I turned 38 I did nothing and got really overweight.” His wakeup call came in April, 2014 when he suffered a severe shingles outbreak that led to pneumonia. “I coughed so hard my ribs exploded – three of them broke and one got permanently dislocated. The other three are still healing slowly.”

After a few weeks, Mike couldn’t take sitting propped up in his recliner any more, put on shoes and went out to walk, which was excruciating at first. “I had to tell myself I needed to improve myself both in mind and body. I decided to start race walking, and began training and gradually losing weight.” In May of 2015, Mike entered a USATF masters race walking event in Las Vegas and wanted to find more opportunities to compete.

“I Googled and found National Senior Games and a whole list of state games. It intrigued me, so I researched further and just set up as many games as I could for the year. I knew that would keep me training and going.”

The goal began as an active way to regain his health, but the sport sojourn is paying broader dividends. “I’ve seen and done a lot in my life that few people have experienced,” Mike says. “I owned seven houses before I got sick, and went from making a lot of money to making no money overnight. But I have to say, this is turning out to be the most enjoyable thing I’ve done.”

“People have really been receptive so far,” he continues. “They don’t treat me like an outsider. In fact, they’re interested in my story. It’s great to travel and meet all these people. I never would have gone to beautiful communities like Bend, Oregon or Sheridan, Wyoming otherwise. It’s just a wonderful experience.”

Mike eagerly looks forward to going to Birmingham in 2017, and intends to continue to add state games to visit into the future. “I want to go to Nationals because I want to experience the pageantry and be a part of it all. It’s an amazing thing for these games to get people out enjoying life again with sports.”

  • Tweet

About Del Moon

What you can read next

Gary Patton Refines and Finds Success December 2022 Athlete of the Month
Around the World in Wavy Ways Athlete of the Month February 2023
This Doctor Delivers Babies – And Records

Recent Posts

  • Competition, fun highlight the 2023 National Senior Games Softball Championship in Columbus

    Tournament had many Ohio connections When senio...
  • Running Blind…with Faith, Motivation and Tenacity

    Keryl Rustin, 74 Kearneysville, West Virginia Y...
  • 2023 National Senior Games Softball Championship comes to Columbus

    ...
  • A Three Generation Legacy

    Dwight Smith, 94 Terry Smith, 74 Christi Smith ...

Archives

Categories

FOOTER MENU

  • About
  • State Games
  • National Games
  • Sports
  • News and Events
  • Partners
  • Donate Today
  • Press Room
  • Memorial Fund
  • Coordinators Homepage
  • QG Coordinators
  • How to Use the NSGA Website

NSGA E-Newsletter and General Interest E-Mail Sign Up

GET IN TOUCH

T (727) 475 1187
Email: NSGA@NSGA.com

National Senior Games Association
PO Box 5630, Clearwater, FL, 33758 USA

  • GET SOCIAL
National Senior Games Association

Non Discrimination Statement |Copyright Notice | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Linking Policy | Help/Contact
© 2022 National Senior Games Association. All rights reserved. Designed by JayBirds Co Inc.
A 501 (c) 3 Charitable Organization | EIN: 43-1488742
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER FOR CONTACTING THE DIVISION IS 1-800-435-7352 AND REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED BY VISITING THE DIVISION’S WEBSITE AT https://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Consumer-Services
National Senior Games Association`s Florida Charity Registration Number, CH62417

TOP
NSGA Uses Cookies
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
2023 National Senior Games - July 7-18, 2023 39 Days 18 Hours 54 Minutes 7 Seconds