The 2023 National Senior Games began Friday, July 7, and continues through Tuesday, July 18, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Over the 12 days of competition in 20 sports, a total of 615 Florida athletes will participate.
Representing Florida are 12 Athletes of the Year ranging from the latest recipients to the 2003 Athlete of the Year.
One of those Athletes of the Year is Gabriel Wong (2020, tennis/pickleball) from Ponte Vedra.
The 2023 National Senior Games Celebration of Athletes will be held Friday, July 14, at PNC Park. Leading the Florida athletes at the Parade of States will be John Shultz, a table tennis player from Sarasota, and Ayenza Matthews, a track and field athlete from Miami.
Since 2001, nearly 8,000 Florida athletes have registered to compete in the National Senior Games.
Area athletes competing in the 2023 National Senior Games are:
- Wigbert Kreidl of Atlantic Beach — Sport: men’s cycling. Age category: 80-84. Events: 5K and 10K time trial, 20K and 40K road race.
- Salvador Camacho of Jacksonville — Sport: road race. Age category: 50-54. Event: 5K
- Gary Christopher of Jacksonville — Sport: swimming. Age category: 75-79. Events: 50 and 100 breast, 50 and 100 free.
- Winston Dowridge of Jacksonville — Sport: table tennis. Events and age categories: men’s doubles (60-64), men’s singles (60-64), mixed doubles (55-59)
- Thelma Ewell of Jacksonville — Sport: women’s golf. Age category: 60-64
- David Hodges of Jacksonville — Sport: men’s golf. Age category: 65-69
- Shelley LaMont of Jacksonville — Sport: pickleball. Age category: 65-69. Event: women’s doubles
- Dominick Mancini of Jacksonville — Sport: bowling. Age category: 65-69. Event: men’s singles
- Dale Robertson of Jacksonville — Sport: men’s golf. Age category: 65-69
- Gilbert Russo of Jacksonville — Sport: pickleball. Age category: 75-79. Event: men’s doubles
- Satoko Wada of Jacksonville — Sport: table tennis. Age category: 55-59. Events: mixed doubles, women’s singles
- James Wiggins of Jacksonville — Sports and events: cornhole (mixed doubles), shuffleboard (mens singles, open doubles). Age category: 65-69
- Laura Williamson of Jacksonville — Sport: women’s volleyball. Age categories: 60+, 65+
- Jessica Franzini of Jacksonville Beach — Sport: tennis. Age category: 55-59. Event: mixed doubles
- Louis Franzini of Jacksonville Beach — Sport: tennis. Age category: 55-59. Event: mixed doubles
- Judy Paukert of Ponte Vedra — Sport: women’s swimming. Age category: 75-79. Events: 50, 100 and 200 Fly; 200 and 400 IM; 500 free.
- Susan Pirzynski of Ponte Vedra — Sport: table tennis. Age category: 65-69. Event: women’s singles
- Joel Reaser of Ponte Vedra — Sport: pickleball. Age category: 80-84. Event: men’s singles
- Glenn Wilkinson of Ponte Vedra — Sports and events: men’s recumbent cycling (5K and 10K time trial), men’s road race (5K). Age category: 60-64.
- Gabriel Wong of Ponte Vedra — Sport: pickleball. Age category: 75-79. Events: men’s doubles, men’s singles
- Diane Zaring of Ponte Vedra — Sport: women’s golf. Age category” 70-74
- Paul Howard Smith of Saint Johns — Sport: men’s road race. Age category: 80-84. Events: 5K and 10K
- Harold Dockins of St. Augustine — Sport: men’s race walk. Age category: 60-64. Events: 1500M, 5K
- Martha Poitevent of St. Augustine — Sport: tennis. Age category: 75-79. Events: women’s doubles, women’s singles
