Sports
Kentucky Athletes, 72 & 75, Compete In Tennis At National Senior Games
The Louisville residents' passion for tennis and staying active serves as an inspiration to people of all ages
The National Senior Games, presented by Humana, is the largest multi-sport event in the world for people aged 50+. Ever since the first Games in 1987 in St. Louis, the National Senior Games has sought to motivate adults to lead active, healthy lifestyles.
The 2023 National Senior Games, held in Pittsburgh, included nearly 12,000 athletes from across the country competing in 21 unique sports.
Since 2013, Humana has recognized outstanding athletes – those who exemplify active aging and provide encouragement, motivation, and inspiration for people of all ages to pursue lifelong health – as Humana Game Changers.
Today, Patch is shining a spotlight on David and Susan Mateja, 75 and 72, from Louisville, Kentucky who competed in tennis at the National Senior Games. Not only do they love competing in tennis, but they are also passionate about inspiring and motivating others to be active no matter their age.
Below, David and Susan Mateja talk about competing in the 2023 National Senior Games and share advice for other seniors looking to stay active.
Answers have been edited for clarity and length.
How long have you been participating in this sport and how did you get started?
Susan started playing tennis in the 1960s with her dad and siblings. There were no tennis courts in their area, so they played on their dead-end street, drawing the dividing lines with chalk. Susan then went on to play tennis in high school and college at the University of Louisville, although it was before Title IX, so tennis was a social sport with no opportunities for scholarships, financial help, or even coaching.
Susan met her now husband, Dave, while playing tennis with her family in 1970 when she was 19 years old.
Dave started playing tennis around age 5 when his dad would take him and his brother to the park to hit balls. He also went on to play in high school and at the University of Louisville. Now he continues to play tennis at the club level and for fun with friends.
Susan and Dave have been married for 50 years now and have been playing tennis together for 53 years!
Can you describe any challenges, health or otherwise, that you had to overcome in order to compete in the National Senior Games?
Susan says her claim to fame is that she has remained injury-free at the age of 72. She says her biggest challenge as she gets older is just doing it.
Dave has battled several medical challenges in the last year that have tried to keep him from competing in the National Senior Games, but he was determined to persevere. In 2022, Dave was diagnosed with kidney cancer and had the tumor and kidney removed. The surgery knocked him out for a short time, but he got back to tennis and the gym very quickly. 2023 came around, and Dave was diagnosed with lung and bone cancer and has been undergoing several different treatments. His ongoing treatments and the side effects made it a challenge for Dave to get back into competitive tennis and prepare for the Games, but he pushed through with his doctors’ blessings and was able to compete in mixed doubles with Susan.
You were one of 28 athletes selected from the thousands competing at the 2023 National Senior Games for the national honor of being named a Humana Game Changer. Can you tell us more about this honor and what it means to you?
Susan and Dave are both very honored to have been named as Humana Game Changers this year. Susan noted that seeing all the excellent athletes from all over the country at the Games has made her reflect on all the little choices she has made over the years that have allowed her to continue to be generous, grateful and follow her passions. Dave said that this honor has inspired him to be a role model not only for the athletes at the Games, but also for all the people in his life back home. He feels more motivated to up his game and better influence others to live a healthier lifestyle.
Why is living a healthy, active lifestyle important to you?
Susan and Dave believe that the key to enjoying life as you age is dependent on having a healthy, active lifestyle. They have been able to travel the world, enjoy new challenges like piano and bridge, and can enjoy making new friends and adjusting to anything life throws at them.
What advice do you have for people wanting to be more active who feel like they don’t know where to start?
Dave believes that incremental progress is key, but you have to be continually evolving. Start small by picking a simple exercise that you haven’t been doing and work your way up to a more aggressive routine. The same applies to your diet. Try to eliminate foods from your diet that aren’t very healthy, and continue to make small beneficial changes.
Susan recommends making one small change and doing it consistently and keeping track of your goals. She also says you should surround yourself with generous and grateful people.
Please tell us about your experience competing in the 2023 National Senior Games. What was the best part?
Susan reflects on her time at the National Senior Games, noting that it was a glorious week! She met athletes from 20 sports and all states, ate at great restaurants, toured Pittsburgh, and participated in a wellness assessment.
Dave also said being in Pittsburgh for the National Senior Games was an awesome experience, competing against people from all over the country, spending time getting to know them and their families, and interacting with all the hard-working people who organized and ran the various events. Dave said that the best part was watching the athletes give their all to their competitions, but also develop friendships with their competitors.
Not only were Susan and Dave there to compete with each other and support each other, but they also had other friends and family in town, making it a memorable week.
Congratulations, David and Susan, on your athletic achievements and helping motivate other seniors to lead healthy active lifestyles!
More about Humana: Since 2007, Humana has sponsored the National Senior Games and celebrated senior athletes with the NSGA. Specifically, Humana supports the National Senior Games’ mission to keep active adults healthy through education, fitness and sport.