The 2008 Olympics Games have begun.   We are not only seeing an amazing number of world records broken, but a larger number of “older” athletes competing than ever before.  Over 20 American athletes are 40 years old or older.  The oldest American competitor is 58 year old sailor, John Dane whose pursuit for an Olympic berth began in 1968, taking 40 years to realize his dream.  The oldest woman is Libby Callahan, 56 year old pistol shooter and a retired Washington, DC police officer.  She  is currently competing in her fourth Games.    The Olympics oldest competitor of all the Games is 67 year old, Japanese equestrian, Hiroshi Hoketsu.

How is it that we are seeing so many older athletes today?  Is it because there is credence to the fashionable idea that 50 is the new 20?

According to Becky Welsey, National Senior Games Association director of association relations, “more older adults are competing in national and international events than ever before.  The number of competitors has grown from just 2500 since the Games started in 1987 to an anticipated number of 12,750 registrants for the 2009 events in San Francisco.”  One reason, Welsey notes,  is the greater awareness of the importance of physical fitness.  The other is the increasing numbers of aging baby boomers who are choosing to try to hang on to their youth as long as possible.

If one looks at the sports touting the greatest number of U.S. older adults in the Olympics, the list includes:  equestrian show jumping, dressage and eventing;  sailing, shooting, archery, racewalking, and swimming.  The equestrian events boast the greatest number of elders, five or almost 25 percent, with shooting coming in second with six competitors.

But, it is not too late for people to capture their Olympic dream… especially if they go for the gold at the Senior Games.  Although the national Games in 2009 will not have shooting, they will for the first time have equestrian as a demonstration sport, along with rowing, sailing, water polo among others.  Welsey notes that the biggest craze is “pickleball” – played on a badminton-sized court with a plastic baseball with holes  and a wooden hand paddle. 

Most states, however, have already held their qualifiers for the 2009 Senior Games events.   However, if you live in these states, you still have a shot:  Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, South Dakota, Wisconsin.   Otherwise, you’ll have to start training for 2011.  For further information on the Senior Games, go here:  www.nsga.com.