BCSSI Olympics almost back from pre-COVID numbers
Aug. 26—It was a sea of orange shirts Monday morning with more than 170 people ready to compete in the seventh annual Boone County Senior Olympics being held throughout the week.
Hosted by Boone County Senior Services Inc., this year's event drew within a slim margin of its pre-pandemic numbers, with 175 seniors participating in 12 events.
Events included euchre, bocce ball, table tennis, bowling, track and field, horseshoes, water aerobics, basketball, golf, a nature walk, pickleball and line dancing.
"We absolutely love love love this week," BCSSI Executive Director Anita Bowen said. "It is out favorite week of the year and it would not be possible without everybody in this room."
Bowen praised the athletes for coming out and getting back out to participating.
"We are headed in the right direction that we need to be to be able to experience these things together and share in all the joy, the fun and making memories," she said.
The week's festivities began Monday morning with a torch lighting and opening ceremony featuring a motivational speech by author and volunteer football coach Tommy Richardson.
"This is a great day. Rejoice and be glad that you're here," Richardson said. "What an amazing group to be here and to be able to interact and to be encouraging each other in the special days that we have coming up."
Richardson gave the group of seniors a saying to remember throughout the week, and beyond.
"Don't retire, re-fire," he yelled, garnering applause from those in the room. "You're not dead, you're here. You are re-firing!"
Richardson, who's in his late 70s, is also an author of a book he co-wrote with Jack Klemeyer, titled Building Excellence: A Guide to Building Authentic Success, which is about how to use all of your potential and to stay inspired.
He then told the crowd the Olympic motto — "The important thing in life is not the triumph, but the fight; the essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well" — and creed: "Citius, Altius, Fortius," which is Latin for swifter, higher, stronger.
Following a light breakfast sponsored by McDonald's of Lebanon, Torch Captain Frank Hensley brought in the ceremonial torch to officially start the games.
The Olympics came to a close Thursday morning, in the same place it started.
"I observed something this morning as you were all coming in," Bowen joked. "You all don't have as much pep in your step that you had at the beginning of the week."
Bowen said this week has been one of the best Senior Olympics she's been a part of. From the amazing weather every day to the amount of participants, she said, this year's Olympics will be one to remember.
A large number of those in attendance at the closing ceremony competed in their first-ever Senior Olympics, something Bowen said was great to see. The closing ceremony was a special time to give out other awards related to the Senior Olympics. The oldest female participants were Rosemary Martin and Betty Meeker, both 99 years old. Sam Vickrey was the oldest male participant, at age 90.
Dan Warkentien and Sharon Sterling both competed in eight events, the most out of all the athletes.
Chuck Trupe was the male with the most medals with 11, and Donna McDaniel's seven medals won her the title of most medals won by a female.
The Spirit Award went to Sam Vickrey and Vera Rusk. They were nominated by the staff and coordinators for their outstanding mental attitude throughout the Senior Olympics. Organizers said they not only stayed positive throughout the week, but encouraged others around them.
For the seventh year in a row, Crown Pointe of Lebanon won the Senior Living Community Spirit Award.
"When it comes down to it, [having fun] is what this week is all about," Bowen said. "Having fun and making new memories. We're so proud of you and as I said on Monday, we couldn't do any of it without our participants."
To view over 450 photos from throughout the week, visit the website at 7thannual bcssiolympics.shutterfly.com.
