Sports
NC Athlete, 72, Competes In Swimming, Cycling At National Senior Games
The Manteo resident is honored as a Humana Game Changer for inspiring others with her passion for staying active.
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 Rita Seelig Ayers, 72, from Manteo, who competed in the women’s 100-yard breaststroke, 50-yard freestyle swim, and 5k cycle at the National Senior Games. Not only does she love competing in both swimming and cycling, but she is also passionate about inspiring and motivating others to be active no matter their age.
Below, Rita talks about competing in the 2023 National Senior Games and shares 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?
I rode a bike as a child, and over the years cycled on and off as exercise or transportation, but it wasn’t until I was invited to ride with a local senior's group, the OBX Silver Riders, that the idea of competing came up. The men in the group were planning a training ride and the leader of the group, Jack McCombs, asked me to join, so I did. Jack had also been competing in the National Senior Games, and he took me under his wing and taught me how to paceline and train to race. I participated in 2014 in the OBX Local Games and the North Carolina State Finals and qualified for the 2015 Nationals in Minneapolis. I have since participated in 2017, 2022 and 2023.
Swimming is a different story. I swam for fun and exercise and was a lifeguard until I was 50 years old because of being a Girl Scout leader. I was also a water safety instructor. The leader of the swimmers in the OBX is Harry Schiffman. He encouraged me to try swimming. I participated in the virtual Games a couple of times during Covid. Last year, after I did not qualify for the National Senior Games, I decided to sign up under the open sign-up. Then, I went to Florida for the 2022 National Senior Games, which was my first-ever competitive meet. I was adopted by a group from Wisconsin who provided guidance and friendship, and that is why I decided to try it again this year.
Can you describe any challenges, health or otherwise, that you had to overcome in order to compete in the National Senior Games?
I have been an athlete/competitor my whole life. In my 40s, I began to experience numbness, fatigue, vision issues, significant joint pain, involuntary muscle contractions, and significant, fast-onset stiffness. I didn't know what was wrong with me. I found that I could no longer play basketball, volleyball, softball or tennis and my main form of exercise, aerobics, was no longer possible because I’d get dizzy when I exerted myself. Over time, I had to make adjustments to keep active. It turns out I had Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Fatigue is the main issue I face with my ability to train. Sometimes I cannot do the exercise I plan. Say I want to do intervals on my bike, some days all I can do is a spinning easy ride, or only part of a workout, or not train at all. But I do something hard every day, even if that is just getting up. In 2019, I qualified but missed the Nationals since I was so fatigued that I couldn’t do any training. Interestingly, in this case, the cause was not my MS, but a lack of free iron in my system. It took close to a year to recover my energy. I still fight fatigue, stiffness and pain, but I find with continued hard exercise, I have fewer bad days.
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?
Finding the right words is hard. I am incredibly honored to be selected. I also know that there are so many other heroes among us that we don’t even realize, people who are working to fight health issues, emotional issues and mental issues, and we don’t even know. In Pittsburgh, I met a woman who also had MS. When she was diagnosed, her neurologist told her to get in shape and exercise. She chose swimming. She is a hero, and she is dealing with her condition with exercise. When I bicycled across the US in 2018, I met a man who struggled with autism, but he used cycling to connect to others and has made many new friends because of it. I only hope that by being selected I can influence others to live a more active healthy lifestyle.
Why is living a healthy, active lifestyle important to you?
Living a healthy, active lifestyle is critical to me. It creates a better quality of life. It literally means my life.
What advice do you have for people wanting to be more active who feel like they don’t know where to start?
Just start by doing something hard for you every day. That may be walking to the mailbox or around the block or even making it to the couch, but when you can do that, make it a little harder. It is a step-by-step process. Some days may be harder than others. Do what you can every day. It may even hurt, but persevere. Decide and commit. If you stick with it and improve a little bit every time, you may surprise yourself with what you can do and that you actually feel better, have more energy, and less pain.
Please tell us about your experience competing in the 2023 National Senior Games. What was the best part?
The best part? I love the friendly competition of the Games, the camaraderie and the drive everyone has for excellence. But the real best part is the people. The strangers who are now my friends. The new friendships I make and the old friendships I renew.
Congratulations, Rita, 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.