The vibrant senior community in Vero Beach recently demonstrated that age is truly just a number. Nearly 140 senior athletes gathered at the Acts Indian River Estates campus to participate in the highly anticipated OlympiActs games. This spirited event brought together residents ranging in age from their 70s to over 90 years old, showcasing an impressive dedication to physical fitness and community engagement right here on the Treasure Coast.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the OlympiActs event welcomed residents from six different Acts Retirement-Life Communities across Florida. The Vero Beach campus hosted a wide array of activities, featuring pep rallies, displays of team spirit, and formal medal ceremonies. Competitors faced off in numerous events, including:
- Pickleball – A fast-paced favorite among active seniors.
- Cornhole – Showcasing precision and focus, with participants like 82-year-old Skip Myers and 89-year-old Cecil Jones taking aim.
- Seated Volleyball – Featuring the athletic skills of 85-year-old local resident June Bakke.
- Relays and Ping Pong – Where 95-year-old Phyllis Auman proudly competed in both the walking relay and women’s table tennis.
Organizers emphasized that the gathering is about much more than just taking home a medal. The primary focus of the OlympiActs is to encourage staying active, challenging the mind and body, and fostering deep friendships among residents.
First it’s just good exercise, and secondly, just the friends you have and when you play together you really get to know each other, and it’s just fun.
According to Kim Huff, the Acts director of fitness and special programs, the Vero Beach community strives to help individuals live healthier and more fulfilling lives. Huff noted that the competition serves as a true celebration of healthy living, emphasizing that staying active in mind, body, and spirit is a cornerstone of their wellness philosophy.
From the exciting opening ceremonies to the final medal presentations, the message in Vero Beach remains unmistakable: retirement is a time for new challenges and lasting friendships, not slowing down.
