BESIDES the fun-filled atmosphere and love for competition in their golden years, it’s the commitment to maintaining a healthy lifestyle that keeps seniors participating in the National Senior Games each year.
Seventy-one-year-old Shirley Harper, of Seven Seas Freedom Striders, believes her body is a gift from God and so she had to do all in her power to preserve it.
“I like the idea of keeping myself fit. I believe God has given me my body and it is my duty to keep it as well as I can,” she told NATION SPORT.
“Having something to work towards like the Senior Games is the incentive that I need, because sometimes I don’t feel like going to training but because there is an incentive there, you do it.”
Competing in the Women’s 70-74 Division, Harper made a record leap of 3.25 metres to erase June Benjamin’s 2014 mark of 2.51 metres in the long jump. She also won the 50 metres (8.41 seconds), 100 metres (16.08) and 200 metres (33.68).
Subscribe now to our eNATION edition.
For the latest stories and breaking news updates download the Nationnews apps for iOS and Android.
