2024 Florida Senior Games, presented by Humana, December, TBD, Florida's Sports Coast/Pasco County

2022 National Senior Games – By The Numbers

The 2022 National Senior Games, presented by Humana, begin today in the Greater Fort Lauderdale Area, with over 11,000 athletes registered to compete. Among those athletes are a total of 1,656 Florida Senior Games athletes competing in the 21 sports offered.

The Games begin today with the 1500 meter Race Walk and Power Walk at the Ansin Sports Complex, in Miramar and conclude on Monday, May 23, with a Celebration of Athletes to be held on Monday, May 16. The 2022 National Senior Games were originally scheduled for 2021, but were postponed until now, due to Covid-19 precautions in the Greater Fort Lauderdale area.

Athletes from every area of the state will represent the State of Florida. Here’s a breakdown of the numbers for Florida’s representation at the 2022 National Senior Games, hosted by the Greater Fort Lauderdale area.

11,938 – Athletes are registered to compete, the third highest number in National Senior Games history.

7,062 – Florida athletes have registered to compete in the National Senior Games since 2001.

1,656 – Florida Senior athletes registered to compete in the 2022 National Senior Games.

845 – Male athletes are registered (51.03%) for the 2022 National Senior Games

811 – Female athletes will compete (48.97%).

557 – Athletes who sent an RSVP saying they would participating in the Celebration of Athletes on Monday evening, May 16.

279 – Cities in Florida are represented by the 1,656 Florida Senior athletes. It starts with Alachua’s Grace Acosta, a swimmer, Zephyrhills’ Rita Jones, a pickleball player.

21 – Medal sports at the 2022 National Senior Games, presented by Humana

18 – National Senior Games since 1987 and second time the biennial event has been held in Florida. The 1999 National Games was contested at Disney’s Wide World of Sports and other Orlando area locations.

16 – Former Florida Senior Games Athletes of the Year will be competing in the 2022 National Senior Games.

Gabriel Wong, Tennis, 2020
Sandra Garner, Volleyball, 2020
Peggy Peck, Track and Field, 2019
Ed Scheid, Golf, 2019
Deborah Harrison, Table Tennis/Pickleball, 2018
Brian Hankerson, Track and Field, 2018
Mike Welter, Pickleball, 2017
Kathy Petrillo. Cycling, 2016
Rudy Vazmina, Swimming, 2015
Essie Faria, Power Walk/Table Tennis, 2011
Avis Vaught, Track and Field, 2010
Patrice Hirr, Swimming, 2009
John Shultz, Table Tennis, 2009
Harry Carothers, Basketball, 2004
Tiny Cazel, Track and Field, 2003
Ethel Lehmann, Softball, 1997

13 – The number of NFL career touchdowns caught by Jimmy Cefalo, the “Voice of the Miami Dolphins,” and emcee of the Flame Arrival Ceremony sponsored by Aviv Clinics. The Flame Arrival will be a reunion of the athletes in a fun beach party atmosphere on Wednesday May 11 at 7 pm in Las Olas Oceanside Park. Cefalo played for the Miami Dolphins from 1978-84.

2 – Tons of sand were used to design the Come Play In Florida sand sculpture at the Greater Fort Lauderdale Broward County Convention Center.