Over 700 Florida Senior Games Athletes to compete in 2025 National Senior Games
A total of 713 Florida Senior Games athletes will compete at the 2025 National Senior Games, in Des Moines, Iowa, July 24-August 4. The total number of Florida athletes is the highest total of any state competing in the 2025 National Senior Games.
Rounding out the top five states are Ohio, with 683 athletes, California, with 658, Texas, with 654 and North Carolina, with 628.
The Villages leads all U.S. cities with 140 athletes traveling to Iowa for competition, just ahead of Albuquerque, New Mexico, host city of the 2019 National Senior Games, with 133.
Among the 713 Florida Senior Games athlete are 14 former Florida Senior Games Athletes, ranging from the 1997 Games to the 2023 Games.
Former Florida Senior Games Athletes of the Year in the 2025 National Senior Games
Patricia Benitez, Orlando, 2023, Table Tennis, 60-64 age group
Harry Carothers, Pinellas Park, 2004, Basketball, 80-84 age group
Madeline Cazel, The Villages, 2003, Track and Field, 85-89 age group
Andrea Collier, Orlando, 2021, Track and Field, 55-59 age group
Robert Cseh, Port St. Lucie, 2023, Powerlifting, 85-89 age group
Linda Fulton, Celebration, 2022, Swimming, 70-74 age group
Sandra Garner, Daytona Beach, 2020, Volleyball, 65-69 age group
Patrice Hirr, The Villages, 2009, Swimming, 75-79 age group
Deborah Harrison, The Villages, 2018, Pickleball, 75-79 age group
Tobias Kaye, Boca Raton, 2021, Pickleball, 70-74 age group
Ethel Lehmann, Largo, 1997, Track and Field, 95-99 age group
Peggy Peck, The Villages, 2019, Basketball, Track and Field, 70-74 age group
John Shultz, Sarasota, 2009, Table Tennis, 85-89 age group, has won a Florida Senior Games medal for 32 consecutive years.
EJ Tarpey, Vero Beach, 2022, Basketball, 60-64 age group
Avis Vaught, The Villages, 2010, Softball, Track and Field, 75-79 age group
More athletes with significant successes
91-year old Archer, Anna Hartman, of The Villages, holds Barebow Recurve records in four different age groups, dating back to 2013. She holds the event records in the 75%2B age group, through the 90%2B age group.
Two-time National Senior Games golf gold medalist, Nick Kent, from The Villages, returns to attempt to win a gold medal in his third age group, the 80-84 age group. Kent won the 75-79 age group gold medal in 2023 and a gold in the 70-74 age group in 2015.
The Clearwater Aces 3-on-3 basketball team travels to Iowa in search of its 9th National Senior Games medal-winning performance since 2001. The Aces won gold medals in the 75-79 age group at the 2022 and 2023 National Senior Games. Former Athlete of the Year, Harry Carothers, has been a member of every Aces team since 2001.
Sport Competition Dates
Archery: July 25 – August 2
Basketball: July 26-30
Beach Volleyball: July 28 – August 1
Billiards: August 1 – 3
Bowling: July 26 – August 1
Cornhole: August 2 – 3
Cycling: July 30 – 31; August 2 – 3
Disc Golf: July 26 – 27
Golf: July 28 – 30
Pickleball: July 26 – August 2
Powerlifting: August 2 – 3
Power Walk: July 28 – 29
Race Walk: July 28 – 29
Racquetball: July 25 – 29
Road Race: July 24 & 26
Shuffleboard: July 25 – August 1
Softball: July 25 – August 4
Swimming: July 25 – 28
Table Tennis: July 31 – August 4
Tai Chi: July 26 – 27
Tennis: July 24 – August 4
Track and Field: July 30 – August 4
Triathlon: August 1
Volleyball: July 25 – 30
Since 2001, a total of 8,387 Florida Senior Games athletes have registered to compete in the National Senior Games.
CLICK HERE for a full listing of athletes, their hometowns and sports and events in which they are competing. It is a 32-page pdf document.