These senior athletes take active aging to another level.
Believe you’re “too old” to compete in the National Senior Games? Think again. Discover inspiring stories from real men and women who’ve built strength and conquered physical setbacks to play the sports they love. Below, get familiar with some of the incredible participants from the 2023 National Senior Games, sponsored by our friends at Humana, who embody active aging.
Meet the Swimmer Who Dominates in the Pool – And in Life
“Every time I go to the National Senior Olympics, I’m like 20 years old again when I’m in that pool!” At 82 years young, DeEtte Sauer has never felt better. After overcoming loss and generational alcoholism, Sauer’s life changed the day she jumped into her community swimming pool and began competing in the National Senior Games.
How Running Helped One Man Reclaim His Life
If you ask 65-year-old veteran Willie Spruill what changed his life in his 50s, his answer may surprise you: running. That’s because Spruill returned home from the Gulf War with significant physical trauma, including extreme migraines and a cracked pelvis, which led to depression and even suicidal thoughts. When he learned about the National Senior Games, the largest multi-sport event in the world for athletes over age 50, Spruill’s competitive spirit kicked in and he started training for a track race, something he hadn’t done since he was in school.
The statistics on veterans and mental health present a gut-wrenching reality: Veterans die by suicide at a rate 1.5 times higher than non-veterans in the U.S.; about 17 veterans in the U.S. die by suicide every day. Some of the top risk factors for veteran suicide? Loneliness, social isolation, food insecurity, and homelessness — all things that no one, but especially those who’ve served our country, should have to endure. Here’s how Spruill turned things around:
How One 94-Year-Old’s Love of Basketball Brought His Family Together
Dwight Smith’s true love in high school was shooting hoops. But after graduating in 1947, the then-18-year-old Louisianian got married, had a son, then had a daughter — and time for playing sports went out of the window. But now at 94, Smith has played in nine National Senior Games and just returned home from this year’s competition, hosted by Humana in Pittsburgh, PA. Learn how he got back in the game:
75-Year-Old Blind Humana Medicare Advantage Member Overcame Health Trials to Hit Senior Games Pool
Imagine learning to swim at age 50. Now, imagine trying to do that if you’re blind. That’s the reality for retired teacher Vivian Stancil: Since learning to float and freestyle, Stancil now competes in the annual National Senior Games as a Humana MA member, which took place this year in Fort Lauderdale. We spoke with Stancil about her journey to competitive swimming, and introduced her to an Olympic gold medalist to talk about the importance of active aging.
