Senior citizens from Atlanta Parks and Recreation programs spent the summer training for the Georgia Golden Games, which took place over three days in Warner Robins.
The annual event for adults 50 years of age and older creates awareness of the abilities of older adults and encourages an interest in lifetime sports and physical activity.
Competitors trained tirelessly at the Center of Hope at Adamsville and the Center of Hope at Ben Hill to compete in basketball and swimming.
Debra Johnson, 58, said she watched swimming competitions on TV growing up. She grew up in a small town in Mississippi and didn’t have access to swimming pools, but quickly enrolled in swim lessons when she moved to Atlanta in 1980.
Johnson brought home three gold medals and one silver medal at the Golden Olympics, competing in the 55-to-59 age division.
Fellow swim competitor Jimmy Lawson, 61, took home a bronze medal in aquatics. He trained all summer with the Aquatics and Prime Time senior programs with Atlanta Parks and Recreation.
The winning basketball team consisted of Willie Bloodsoe, 57, Anthony Brandon, 57, and Chris Cromartie, 56.
Each has played basketball for over 40 years and used the years of experience to their advantage.
Atlanta Parks and Recreation offers a 55-and-older basketball league and senior swim program to help prove you are never too old to get active.
WSBTV
