National Veterans Golden Age Games encourages functional fitness

Over 400 veterans from 42 states attended the 36th annual National Veterans Golden Age Games (NVGAG) in Sioux Falls last week. This was the first time ever the games were held in South Dakota.

NVGAG is part of an initiative by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to keep veterans active during their golden years through their motto, “Fitness for Life”. NVGAG offered 14 events for veterans to compete in, spanning from track and field, to nine ball, shuffleboard, cornhole, and air rifle and pistol. Veterans compete for a bronze, silver or gold medal in all 14 categories. 

“It’s really to keep them active, not only within the community, but for themselves as well,” South Dakota VA Public Affairs Officer Sam Otto said. “As veterans, you’re used to the team environment and being in shape, because that’s what the military expects of you. It’s really just to continue that process of staying fit, which prolongs your life, too, and it makes for a better life.”

Along with this being the first time the event was held in South Dakota, the 2022 games are the first in-person games since 2019. 2020 and 2021 were remote and participants sent in videos and photos of their performance scores. The 2023 games will be in Des Moines, Iowa. 

This year was Sioux Falls native Cyndy White’s first time participating in the games. She served as an Army medic from 1974-77 and carried the torch during the NVGAG opening ceremony. 

“I competed in the cornhole, and I lost, but I still had a wonderful time,” she said. “I’ve already had several people that support me say, ‘You’re going to Des Moines next year, you’re going and we’re going to make sure you go.’”

William Smith from Elgin, Ill., trains all year for the games. The 64-year-old has competed in three games, including the 2020 and 2021 remote games. This year, he participated in cornhole, discus, javelin, shotput, 200-meter dash and table tennis. He placed third in cornhole and shotput and took home first place for his discus throw. 

“It’s a great way to encourage us all to participate and live a happy and healthy, very active lifestyle,” Smith said. “Exercise and fitness are very important as you age and if you don’t, you end up being too inclined to be on a sofa and gain weight. This allows me the opportunity to just keep myself motivated, to work out, eat healthy and at the same time look forward to these events each year.”

One of the sessions available on Friday was a Fitness for Life class led by the Adaptive Training Academy where trainers teach functional fitness education for individuals with limitations. ATA founder Alec Zirkenbach is a 10-year Navy veteran who nearly lost his leg in combat and started the training academy in 2012. He credits CrossFit and functional fitness for saving his life. 

“We’ve been joking with a lot of the athletes that this is exercise racing,” Jenna Muri-Rosenthal, ATA director of content development, said. Muri-Rosenthal is a certified brain injury specialist and ATA trainer. “We put together a combination of functional movement like today, they’re doing deadlifting and squatting. We all have to pick heavy stuff up from the ground and we all have to sit and get on and off a seat.”

The Fitness for Life class was introduced to NVGAG this year in hopes that it will become a medal sport in the future. 

Angela Walker, a frequent participant of former games, traveled from Waukegan, Ill., for last week’s event. Walker came away with a bronze in boccia ball, silver medals in air rifle and shuffleboard and grabbed the gold in horseshoes and table tennis. The 1985-87 Army vet also sang the National Anthem for the opening ceremony.

“It’s such a special song and that’s why I sing it like I do because I know what it means. I know the sacrifice that our men and women have made. That’s why that song is so special to me and that’s why I sing it with all my heart,” Walker said.  

This year’s games saw everyone back on the field together and excited to get back to the NVGAG motto of fitness for life.

“We really push to accommodate all veterans and then really push them to compete in these events because it’s not only about the competition, but the camaraderie. too, because all veterans have that bond of being in the military as a veteran,” Otto said.