FORT SAM HOUSTON, TEXAS -- An over 55 athlete from the U.S. Army Medical Information Technology Center (USAMITC) recently competed in the National Veterans Golden Age Games in St. Louis, Mo., and brought home three medals--two gold and one silver. Col. Terry Shanahan, (U.S. Army, Retired) of USAMITC's Project Management Division (PMD), won gold medals in the javelin and shot put, and a silver medal in the discus throw.
Shanahan was already a member of the Texas Throwers, a network of men and women of all ages who enjoy competing in the discus, shot-put, javelin, and hammer and weights. He competed, and still competes regularly in Texas Senior State Game competitions held all over Texas for athletes 50 and above, and in the National Senior Games held all over the U.S.
A Navy veteran and a fellow member of the Texas Throwers told Shanahan about the National Veterans Golden Age Games in St. Louis for veterans over 55. In these games, nearly 1,000 athletes competed in a choice of "15 events ranging from cycling and swimming to checkers and shuffleboard." Shanahan competed because they offered the discus, shot put and javelin.
Shanahan joined these groups and competitions as a way to "stay fit, stay in shape and to get back into the game," as he put it. "The oldest guy on the Texas Throwers is 90, and he throws the hammer," said Shanahan. He said the oldest thrower he knows of anywhere is a 91 year old discus thrower.
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