The Iowa Senior Games Hall of Fame was established in 2006 (the 20th anniversary of the Iowa Senior Games) to recognize and honor outstanding athletic performances by our senior athletes, as well as outstanding contributions made to the success of the Iowa Senior Games by athletes, board members, and volunteers. What is a “Senior Athlete”? A senior athlete is someone, male or female, who trains and competes in a variety of events with their age-group peers. Many may not feel that they have the capacity or the ability to participate in senior athletics. However, at the senior level there are events that are suitable for almost anyone who has the interest and wants to challenge themselves, through competition with their peers, to improve their health, and have fun. Although, there are many who have been participating for several years, like our Hall of Fame Inductees, a significant number do start in their sixth, seventh, or even eighth decades. The late Dr. George Sheehan, who was the prototype senior athlete, stated that, “the memorable thing is not how you compete against others, but how you compete against yourself”. This creed is held not only by our Hall of Fame Inductees, but also by many of the athletes who train and compete at a senior level.
As is often quoted, “we don’t stop playing because we are old, but we become old because we stop playing.” For these individuals, how true that is.
To nominate a participant for the Iowa Senior Games Hall of Fame, download the Hall of Fame nomination form. Please send Hall of Fame nominations to cole.bollweg@iowagames.org. The deadline to submit your nomination is April 15, 2024.
Ellen Johnson – Des Moines, IA
Tom Kirkwood – Dyersville, IA
Sam Kranovich – West Des Moines, IA
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