Sime held up a peace sign after running in track events, winning three gold medals and two silver medals in track at the Senior Games. An experienced runner, Sime has long competed in marathons — even since reaching senior citizenship — like the 2015 Boston Marathon, which he ran alongside his eldest son. He also competed in racquetball, winning two gold medals and one silver medal.

Ron Franke, a 66-year-old pickleball player from Georgetown, Texas, caught some air during the competition. The vice-president of the Sun City Texas Pickleball Club, Franke competed in one of the most popular games in this year’s events. The surge in pickleball’s popularity was evident as the registration had to be closed due to a lack of enough courts. This dynamic sport has brought joy and excitement to senior athletes, creating a vibrant and competitive environment for all involved.

Helene Myers, 69, of Columbia, Maryland, flashed a big smile as she prepped for her track and field event. Many of the senior women competing in the National Senior Games did not have the opportunity to participate in sports in their youth. Now, they embrace the chance to compete and showcase their skills with infectious joy. The games have a special atmosphere that is not just about winning but also about celebrating the spirit of competition and being part of a supportive community.

Pole vaulter Edward Kent, 90, expertly cleared the bar as he competed in the challenging track and field event. The games have a very special atmosphere, and seeing athletes like Kent competing is truly motivational. Age is no barrier to these extraordinary athletes who continue to set the bar high for their peers and inspire the next generation. The joy of being able to compete and share the experience with others is an integral part of the Senior Games, fostering a sense of community and celebration.

Throughout history, women have been brave warriors, charismatic rulers, and shrewd strategists. Archeological discoveries in 2020 uncovered even more intriguing evidence from ancient times that prove women of that time were totally badass.

The Real-Life Mulan

It is believed that two women found in a grave in Mongolia dating back to the Xianbei period (147 to 552 A.D.) are the inspiration behind the famed “Ballad of Mulan,” which tells the story of a girl who took her father’s place to serve in the military. Since China didn’t have military conscription during that period, researchers believe it was these two Mongolian women who inspired the tale. The skeletal remains showed they were skilled horseback riders and archers who fought alongside men.

A Ruthless Mayan Queen & Her “White Road”

Recent analysis of the ancient “white road” connecting two ancient Mayan cities, Cobá and Yaxuná, in the Yucatán showed that the 1,000-year-old limestone passage might have been created by Lady K’awiil Ajaw, a powerful Mayan queen who sought to expand her regional power. Yaxuná was steadily growing and becoming a threat to the queen’s rule, so she decided to go forth into battle.

An Ancient Siberian Grave Sheds Light on Women Warriors

In a 2,500-year-old burial site in Siberia, archeologists found the body of a woman warrior together with her weapons stash including knives, bronze daggers, and an ax. The woman belonged to the ancient Tagar culture where being buried with long-range weapons was part of their burial customs.

Egyptian Women & Their Love Spells

In 2020, archeologists also uncovered a curious practice done by women in ancient Egypt – casting love spells on men. Up until that point, evidence showed that it was actually the men who would turn to spells to attract the woman they wanted. In a papyrus scroll, scientists found an “erotic binding spell” written about 1,800 years ago by a lovestruck woman named Taromeway. She wanted to enchant a man named Kephalas and drive him mad with lust for her. The spell called upon a ghost to hound him, and whether it worked is still a mystery.

Women Didn’t Just Collect Herbs and Plants

It has long been believed that in ancient hunter-gatherer societies, it was the men who acted as primary hunters while women collected fruits and herbs. A new discovery of a 9,000-year-old burial of a woman hunter began to challenge that belief. The grave in southern Peru contained a hunting toolkit near the skeleton, indicating that the person was a skilled hunter respected by society. Modern analysis of the bones showed that they belonged to a woman as opposed to a man, contrary to what was initially thought.