Year Five of the Senior Planet Sponsored Athlete program kicked off at the beginning of 2024 with five more inspiring older adult athletes. This year’s team could be called “the comeback kids,” with each athlete having bounced back from serious health setbacks in their younger years to thrive as active older adults! As the 2024 program has now ended, we asked our athletes one last series of questions:

What has been the highlight of your wellness journey during your time as a Senior Planet Sponsored Athlete? What final tips or advice do you have for our community? What does “Aging with Attitude” mean to you?

Harold Sanco, 63

“My highlight definitely has been sharing my story of coming back from surgeries. So many seniors have been through something similar in their past life. It was uplifting to let seniors know an injury is just temporary and not forever. Always stay positive and own your health and keep moving.

Aging with attitude means you’re ‘retired, not expired!’

My final tip to our community is not to focus on results but focus on healthy habits and behaviors that produce results. Go at your own pace and be positive about finding joy in moving.

Aging with attitude means you’re ‘retired, not expired!’ There is no magic to healthy living. Just get to work and shape your future. Your health is not owned, it’s rented – and rent is due daily.”

Jan Haig, 68

“Part of my goal in applying to be a Senior Planet Sponsored Athlete was to determine if senior Spin at home can be a viable class offering to the general public. I’m invigorated to see how many seniors viewed the Spin class recordings, a clue that at-home Spin is something seniors are curious about and can benefit from.

Despite a permanent back injury, I get many benefits from riding a Spin bike daily and hope to encourage other seniors to do the same – it’s an ideal way to get a strong but safe full-body workout in 20-to-30 minutes a day!

You have more power than you think: Embrace it. Start small and go at your own pace… But go!

My final advice to the Senior Planet community is to release what doesn’t serve you. Instead, find what you love and modify it to suit your needs. Get out of your comfort zone, and show your world that this is what aging and retirement look like now!

Aging with Attitude means aging actively. Active aging supports a longer, healthier, more independent life. You have more power than you think: Embrace it. Start small and go at your own pace… But go!”

Tom Simek, 72

“A couple of the highlights of being a Senior Planet Sponsored Athlete this year were hosting the two online workout presentations for the community, and also being interviewed by Business Insider!

Keep moving, and find a sport that you enjoy doing with others.

Some final advice to everyone is to keep moving, and find a sport that you enjoy doing with others. Include functional exercises in your daily workout routine that will transfer over to your everyday activities.

Aging with Attitude to me is to do the opposite of what other people expect a 72 year-old man to be doing! Challenge myself everyday and keep inspiring others by showing what is possible!”

Nancey Walker, 63

“My wellness journey had many ‘pivots’ last year. It was all a learning experience. My love for group fitness was fed by my preparation for my two classes that I taught. Perhaps the biggest highlight was learning all the things that Senior Planet has to offer! Lean into the community because there is something there for everyone! Take things at your own pace and learn to pivot.

No matter the age, live life to the fullest; you get to decide what that means.

Aging with Attitude? I wear the shirt and the attitude, with pride. No matter the age, live life to the fullest; you get to decide what that means.”

A Last Look Back

Thank you to all of our awesome athletes who shared their personal wellness journeys with the Senior Planet community this year. We wish all of you a safe and healthy 2025! For a look back on everyone’s stories and blog entries, visit seniorplanet.org/athletes.

Stay tuned for a big reveal as we name the 2025 Sponsored Athletes later this month!

Sean Cruse is the Communications Manager at Senior Planet & OATS from AARP. He has worked in nonprofit and social good communications for the last 10 years. Sean is involved with all things Senior Planet communications, from email newsletters (sign up here!) to creative projects. He also co-leads the Senior Planet Sponsored Athlete program and loves helping our team of amazing senior athletes share their stories.