Two very experienced Senior Games athletes

How many times do you have the opportunity to talk to someone who is 102 years old?

I had that pleasure when I called to check in on John Donnelly, my favorite over-100 years old athlete.

His first comment to me was if we had created a 100-105 year old age group. He’s tired of having to play against younger competition. You know, in the 80-85 age group.

John is planning on qualifying for the State Championships in Table Tennis at the upcoming Tampa Bay Senior Games. His plans are to be at the Estero Community Center on Monday, December 8 to be the first 100-year old athlete in the 17-year history of the Florida Senior Games State Championships.

Sadly, he will have to settle for the gold medal on a state level, even though it would qualify him for the 2009

National Senior Games in the San Francisco Bay area. “My doctor says I can’t travel in an airplane any more.”

Donnelly founded the Table Tennis Club in his home of Sun City Center in 1980. In March, he was bestowed the honor of having the club named, the “John Donnelly Table Tennis Club of Sun City Center.” He is recognized as the “World’s Oldest Active Table Tennis player.”

I also checked in on 99-year old Roger Gentilhomme, of Dunedin, and he is planning on bringing his entourage to Lee County and the City of Cape Coral for the his third consecutive year of competition in the 95-99 age group.

Gentilhomme, who travels to the Games with his son Claude, and daughter, Calla Jean, plans to enter thesingles bowling competition and play tennis and shuffleboard. As the 2006 Florida Senior Games Male Athlete of the Year, he lit the ceremonial torch at the Celebration of Athletes last year at City of Palms Park.

In a September article from “Capecodonline.com,” Gentilhomme shared his plans of qualifying at the 2008 Florida Senior Games State Championships and competing as a 100-year old at the 2009 National Senior Games. He keeps a rigorous schedule.

“You need something to look forward to,” he said. “People in retirement twiddle their thumbs too much. People that are active in their later years are pleasant people and I think it leads to their good life. They have a nice outlook."

Since we're talking about the sports of the 2008 Florida Senior Games State Championships, following is a schedule for the Games, to be held December 6-14 in Lee County and the City of Cape Coral.

Archery, Saturday, 12/6 – Sherman Soccer Complex, Fort Myers

Badminton, Sunday, 12/14 – Estero Community Park

Basketball

 Shooting, Friday, 12/12 – Estero Community Park

 3-on-3, Saturday, 12/13 – Estero Community Park

Billiards, Friday, 12/12 - Sunday, 12/14 – Diamond Billiards, Cape Coral

Bocce, Saturday, 12/6 (Women) & Sunday, 12/7 (Men), Veteran’s Park, Cape Coral

Bowling, Saturday, 12/6 & Sunday, 12/7 – Galaxy Lanes, Fort Myers

Bowling – Team, Monday, December 8 – Galaxy Lanes, Fort Myers

Celebration of Athletes, Friday, 12/12 –  Estero Community Park

Cycling

 5K & 10K, Tuesday, 12/9 – Wilmington Parkway and NW 14^th Place, Cape Coral

 20K & 40K, Thursday, 12/11 – North Gator Circle and Connection Avenue, Cape Coral

Golf

 Men’s, Tuesday, 12/9 – Golf Club at Magnolia Landing, North Fort Myers

 Women’s, Wednesday, 12/10 – Golf Club at Magnolia Landing, North Fort Myers

Horseshoes, Wednesday, 12/10 – Estero Community Park

Pickleball, Saturday, 12/6 - Monday, 12/8 – Rutenburg Community Park, Fort Myers

Powerlifting, Saturday, 12/14 – Florida Gulf Coast University

Race Walk

 1500 Meter, Sunday, 12/14 – Ida Baker High School, Cape Coral

 5K & Fun Walk, Saturday, 12/13 – Rotary Park, Cape Coral

Racquetball, Saturday, 12/13 & Sunday, 12/14, Naples Fitness Center

Road Race

 10K, Saturday, 12/6 – Centennial Park, Downtown Fort Myers

 5K, Saturday, 12/13 – Rotary Park, Cape Coral

Shuffleboard, Saturday, 12/13 & Sunday, 12/14 – North Fort Myers Community Park

Softball

 Men’s 50+/Women, Saturday, 12/6 & Sunday, 12/7 – Northwest Softball Complex, Cape Coral

 Men’s 55/60/65/70/75+, Saturday, 12/13 & Sunday, 12/14 – Northwest Softball Complex, Cape Coral

Swimming, Saturday, 12/6 & Sunday, 12/7– Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers

Table Tennis, Monday, 12/8 – Estero Community Park

Tennis, Tuesday, 12/9-Sunday, 12/14 – Florida Gulf Coast University, Three Oaks Community Park

Track & Field, Saturday, 12/13 (Field Events only) & Sunday, 12/14 (Running Events) – Ida Baker High School, Cape Coral

Volleyball, Saturday, 12/6 & Sunday, 12/7 – Estero Community Park

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