The National Senior Games is a biennial competition for men and women 50 and over, featuring 20 different sports, such as racquetball, softball, swimming and tennis. This is the largest multi-event sports competition in the world for seniors. What began in 1987 with 2,500 athletes has grown into an incredible event featuring a total of 13,882 athletes in 2019. One of these remarkable athletes is Revel’s very own Ron Williams.
Williams, an 85-year-old resident at Revel Nevada, competed in the National Senior Games in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Williams won silver in racquetball, following his qualifying gold medal win at the 2018 Nevada Senior Games. Williams is no stranger to the National Senior Games, having competed in the 2013 Games in Cleveland, Ohio.
Williams has been a racquetball lover for over 40 years, driven by his love of the sport. “I enjoy racquetball and I enjoy competition,” said Williams. “Going to the Nationals is really no big thing. I do it for myself, not to impress anyone.”
To train for the event, Williams exercised five times per week, participating in activities such as running, weightlifting, tai chi and swimming. He trains at the Revel Nevada fitness center and plays racquetball with a group of players at various locations throughout Henderson. The goal of the fitness centers at Revel communities is to offer a wide variety of program options so residents can explore their favorite activities as well as try new things. The wide range of exercise and movement programs create an environment that support residents’ health.
Williams has been a high achiever most of his life. Before moving to Revel Nevada, he spent 22 years in the Air Force, setting 8 world altitude and time-to-climb world records with U-2C planes in the late 1980s. “Ron is an inspiration to the rest of our residents,” said Luis Pineda, Executive Director at Revel Nevada. “He embodies the essence of what we aim for in a Revel resident. Ron is constantly working to meet his goals and maintains an active lifestyle to do so.” Ron is very excited to compete in the next National Senior Games in 2021. The entire team and community at Revel will be supporting him every step of the way.
For more, be sure to check out Ron’s interview on news station KTNV!
