Upstate athletes head to the National Senior Games
Hundreds of South Carolinians are stretching, pumping, and practicing for the 2023 National Senior Games, set for July 7–18 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The biennial competition is the largest multi-sport gathering in the world for men and women 50 and over. Swimming, cycling, and power walking are some of the traditional Olympic sports included, rounded out with recreational events like bocce, billiards, and horseshoes.
The games began in St. Louis in 1985. Today, leading up to the nationals, as many as 3,000 50- to 100-year-olds go head-to-head in spring and fall games around South Carolina, which culminate with the State Games at Francis Marion University in Florence. Some 300–400 elite Palmetto State athletes qualify for Nationals, where they gather to test strength and skills against 15,000 other competitors. Meet some of South Carolina’s best.
Athlete: James Taylor
Sport: cycling and swimming (5K and 10K time trails, 20K and 40K road race; 50-, 100-, 200- and 500-yard freestyle)
Age: 70
Hometown: Greer via Chicago
Fun Fact: “Swam his age” on his 70th birthday: 7,050 yards
National Games appearances: 2015, 2017, 2022, 2023
Strong Start
“I grew up playing basketball and did a little track just to stay in shape for basketball. In my 20s and 30s, I started running, until I had trouble with my knees. When I was 40, I started doing triathlons. I really enjoyed the cycling and swimming and realized my knees were better with those disciplines. I was introduced to the Senior Games in 2014. I do the SC and GA games every year. Sometimes it’s a struggle. I’ve slowed down with age. I swim at the Eastside YMCA and Sugar Mill subdivision.”
Growing Goals
“My goal last year was to exercise 300 times across the year. I ended up with 302. I swam 165 miles last year and cycled 4,808. My goal this year is to beat last year. I ride with different groups. That’s the one thing I like: I make more friends with cycling than with swimming. By doing two different sports, I think I’m in better shape because I’m exercising different muscles. At the ’22 Games, my sports were during different weeks. This summer, they’ll be the same week. So, I’m waiting to see competition times to see exactly what I’ll compete in, even though I qualified for eight events.”
Athlete: Brenda Ellis
Sport: swimming (50-, 100-, and 200-yard freestyle, 50-yard backstroke)
Age: 78
Hometown: Greenville via Curtain Falls, NY
Fun Fact: Grabbed four golds at the SC Senior Games
National Games appearances: Rookie
In the Swim
“I ran and competed in triathlons for 30 years and then I tore my ACL and had to give up running. After COVID, I started swimming hard. I worked really hard and screwed up my courage to swim at the SC Senior Games in North Charleston. You only get one shot, and like Hamilton, I don’t want to miss my shot! I wouldn’t qualify for 8-and-unders in SAIL, but I won my four events and qualified for Nationals.”
Survival of the Fittest
“When you get to this age group, it’s survival of the fittest. Most people are dead. When I first started swimming, when we moved to Greenville, I could get across the pool without drowning. That was it. I was pathetic. I didn’t want to tell my kids about competing because I thought they’d laugh, but they’re so proud. Some are even coming to Pittsburg to watch me compete and cheer me on.”
Athlete: Bill Bach
Sport: track & field (50-, 100-, and 200-meter dash, running long jump and high jump) and softball
Age: 75
Hometown: Greer via Hamilton, Ohio
Fun Fact: Holds the 65–69 age group SC record for the 50-meter dash: 7.28 seconds
National Games appearances: 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023
Born to Run
“If you’re a sprinter like me, it’s an inherited ability. You’re either fast, or you’re not. I’ve been blessed with good speed from my dad and grandmother. I get asked all the time how much I practice. At our age, you can’t train like it’s the real Olympics. It would be insane. That would bring too many injuries. For track and field at the State Games, I start practicing about six weeks out, and keep practicing until the National Games off and on. I jumped 4’4” in the high jump at State and 12’ in the running long jump.”
On the Ball
“Softball isn’t quite as competitive. I wish there were more teams. South Carolina is sending three softball teams to Nationals this year, to compete in three different age groups. Our 70–74-year-team is a group from Greenville and Spartanburg. We practice together twice a week and travel around to play others in Georgia and North Carolina. I play outfield and my batting average is .700. I’m not a power hitter, but when you’re as fast as I am, you can hit almost anywhere and run it out at first base.”
Athlete: Bill Keesling
Sport: track & field (sprinter, shot put, discus, and javelin)
Age: 82
Hometown: Taylors via Memphis
Fun Fact: Founded Greenville Track Club 51 years ago
National Games appearances: 2022, 2023
Why Not Run?
“I had a friend going into 10th grade who said, ‘Why don’t you run track?’ So that’s what happened. After college, I was in the Air Force. I started a track and field program where I was stationed on Cape Cod and we competed in the Air Force and Air Defense Command meets. I went back to school and got into coaching. I coached track and field at Furman from 1969–78. I coached the Saudi Arabian National Team for two years. Of course, it was when the US and Saudi Arabia boycotted the 1980 Olympics.”
Staying Strong
“I’ve always had an interest in maintaining some level of fitness. I ran my last marathon in New York City in ’93. I retired in ’07 and we started RVing. In 2020, my wife passed away and I had a fair amount of time on my hands. In the winter of ’21, I decided it was time to get back into shape and try to run some meets. I compete in the 50-, 100-, and 200-meter runs, but I was injured during last fall’s state meet. I did compete and qualify for the shot put, discus, and javelin.”
To get involved locally, visit SCSeniorGames.com.
Pick Your Sport
National Senior Games include:
Individual: Archery, Badminton, Basketball Free Throw, Basketball Spot Shooting, Pocket Billiards, Bocce, Bowling, Corn Hole, Cycling, Disc Golf, Golf, Horseshoes, Pickle Ball, Power Walk, Race Walk, Racquetball, Road Race (5K), Shuffleboard, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track & Field, Triathlon
Team: Basketball, Softball, Volleyball
