Last Updated on September 20, 2024
The National Senior Games are really the International Senior Games, and one of the most enthusiastic and inspiring international teams comes from Barbados. Despite their athletic success, especially in masters track and field, team Barbados recognizes the importance of the socialization that events like the National Senior Games organically provide.
“We are really about not only athletics, we are about camaraderie,” said Beverly Walters. “We are about aging beautifully, active aging. So that’s what BAMSAC, our local club is all about.”
BAMSAC is an acronym for the Barbados Masters and Seniors Athletic Club — a source of great pride and joy for the tiny Caribbean nation with a total population of only 280,000.
“We do it to stay healthy, and also to stay active and age beautifully,” Paulette Broomes told Growing Bolder at the 2023 National Senior Games.
“The best thing is the camaraderie,” says Marcelline Christie. “There’s so much support among us. We just enjoy being with each other, it’s all about having fun.”
“Winning, [is one objective.] But being healthy and having fun [is our main goal.] It’s like a social club,” Sandra Murray says. “As you’re going, you need that social input to keep our ages together. It’s all about that.”
Team Barbados has been to 11 straight National Senior Game, Traveling every two years to enjoy the competition and the camaraderie. They admit that as an international team, making it to the games is expensive and can be a financial sacrifice, as they seek out sponsors to help them in their pursuit of fun and fitness.
Growing Bolder was on site in Pittsburgh to watch Team Barbados take home the gold medal in the relay at the 2023 National Senior Games, a source of great pride for all athletes over 50.
“It’s an indescribable feeling,” said Beverly Walters afterwards. “I feel so good to be taking home some hardware, and gold hardware at that. I feel good. Go Barbados!”
Back home, they were welcomed at the airport and celebrated in their national media, but their focus quickly shifting to preparing for the 2025 National Senior Games in Des Moines, Iowa. As they continue to train together, Team Barbados shares a message they believe all adults over 50 can learn from.
“Age is a number, and live actively,” says Paulette Broomes.
“Believe and you will achieve,” Angela Holder said.
“Our motto is ‘healthier, fitter, stronger,’ and that’s what we live to do,” says Walters. “We are not only at an athletic club, but we are also social club and we pull on each other’s strengths and that’s how we keep together.”
You can learn more about the National Senior Games and watch more stories like this one at NSGA.com/Video.
