Ellen Flynn and Betsy Moore won six medals in Pickleball.

For The Vista

On July 13-19, the Nashville area hosted 2,000 athletes from all over Tennessee at the State Senior Olympic Games.

Since this was a qualifying year for Nationals in Cleveland, Ohio in 2013, the competition was fierce.

For the first time, pickleball will be offered as a sport at Nationals in 2013, so there were many more pickleball competitors.

Taking home medals in pickleball were: Ellen Flynn, Betsy Moore, Rita Karns, Bruce Whitehead, and Mike Sloan.

Tennis medalists included: Hank Bartos, Marilyne Bartos, Mike Sloan, George McKay, Bev Schwind, Jim Schwind, Jan Saunders, Sue Allen, and Ann Flint.  Marty Wennermark took home a gold in golf, and Barb Yeaton and Gloria Lusk also took home medals in swimming.

The Senior Olympics is an annual event, although Nationals are held every other year. The previous year qualifies athletes for Nationals. Fairfield Glade hosts the local qualifying events in late April and early May in tennis, pickleball, table tennis, and other sports are held at nearby venues. Age categories start at 50-54 and go up in increments of 5 years.