Olympics Summer 2008 Sports for Everyone!
by Kelly S. Croslis

August will bring us, once again, a collection of the finest athletes from around the world. With each Olympics there are those athletes that stand out among the rest, make us realize what we are capable of and wonder if maybe, just maybe, we can do it too - if we only put our minds to it.

With the controversies that have plagued the upcoming games, the doubts as to if they should be boycotted and if they should have been held in China to begin with - we are looking at something even more amazing - at least to some.

This year the focus has been on 41 year old swimmer, Dara Torres from California. Torres, in making the Olympic swim team will be participating in her 5th Olympic games - the most of any American swimmer. What makes her story so amazing to us is her success and the ability to do what she is doing, "at her age."

While Torres is an example, she is not the only "older" competitor at this year's Olympics. On the gun range we will find, 56 year old Libby Callahan competing in pistol shooting. There is a 58 year old sailor John Dane III and a "youngster" at 34, judo athlete Valerie Gotay.

As the age of the competitor's increases, the average age of an Olympic team member rose from 24 years old to 27 years old between 1976 and 1996, the audience increases as well and we can see life in a different way, a way that tells us "age is only a number," we are capable of many things. Growing older and having children is not a reason to stop competing.

This year we will see a roster that includes 3 five time Olympians, 12 four time Olympians, with 21 US Olympians headed to Beijing are 40 or older. Bringing with them experiences they can share with their younger teammates, showing by example how to train, how to compete and most importantly, how to maintain the attitude and drive it takes to continue in their sport long after some will say they are too old.

When the Olympics start on August 8th, there will be something for everyone - no matter the age.

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