Vic Green’s fierce competitiveness played a role in winning five medals in late June in the statewide Senior Olympics.
Now that he’s tasted victory, Green’s focus has shifted to participating in the nationals next summer.
Green took home bronze in the 50-meter dash and discus throw, a silver in softball throw and gold in shot put and 1,500-meter speed walk. The speed walk was the “most grueling” due to the heat.
The state competition — comprised of 1,940 seniors across all sports — took place in Brentwood. Green participated in six events, only failing to medal in the 100-meter dash.
“I just retired last year at 85 and that was always for the last 10 years my dream that when I retired I wanted to be in the Senior Olympics,” Green said of how he got involved in competing. “I’d been fairly physically young for my age and felt that — I’d never done any of these events even when I was a youngster. I’d never done the discus, I’d never done the shot put, and so last summer — we moved here last summer ... and I started looking into these events and I entered the district meet last fall in September in Athens ... and I didn’t know anything about how to throw a discus or shot put.
“I’d never run in a race,” he added. “I went down there and just fumbled through thinking, ‘Well, I’ll just see what it’s like’.”
Green took home one silver and five bronze medals in Athens.
Now that Green has competed in the district and state competitions, he said he has every intention to participate in the nationals in Birmingham, Ala., next year.
“I know I can compete in these five events in the nationals, so what I’m doing now is getting additional advice,” Green said. “I study — there’s tons of videos on the Internet showing you how to throw the discus, how to throw the shot put, and I’m doing what I can to increase my — the nationals are very, very competitive, and very honestly, at the age of 85-89, if you really work hard and train — which I’ve been doing — you have a distinct advantage over a lot of participants. They’re in it for fun.”
While enjoying himself, Green said he is in the Senior Olympics to compete.
“I’m a very competitive person,” he said, laughing. “I’m not doing it just to have fun, although I don’t look like I’m 86. I’m physically pretty decent. I’ve lost about 20 pounds since I’ve started getting involved in this, and I feel better than I’ve felt in 20 years. Really, I feel it will lengthen my lifespan, my active lifespan, by staying active in these events. ... Basically I’m going to keep doing it for as long as I can.”
Linda Bailey, Green’s wife, said she has already made reservations for the couple next year.
“I told him when it was over that I was glad that we had a little respite here because he’s just been obsessed with getting ready for it,” Bailey said. “He’s worked very hard, and I’m very proud of what he’s done. I think he’s right that being involved will help lengthen his life and his enjoyment of life just because he’ll be more fit. Plus he has an outlet for his competitive spirit.”
Bailey said her husband has encouraged her to get involved in the Senior Olympics, but she has not committed just yet.
“I like to win,” Green said, laughing. “Or at least finish as high as I can. I’m not trying to achieve something impossible. I figure if I can throw a discus 50 feet that with practice and better form I should be able to do 60 or 70 (feet). So, I’m going to work at to try to achieve that. That’s basically — there are a lot of people there that are just satisfied to get out and do the events, and that’s not me. Anything I get into I want to win. I may not, but at least it’s worth trying.”
Hopes within the next year are to potentially form a track and field club in Tellico Village, Green said, noting the group would be there to encourage people to stay active.
“The nice thing about these events is that you’re competing with yourself as much as with other people,” Green said.
