Several men ages 65 to 78 competing in the 400-meter event on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Colorado Senior Games at the Garry Berry Stadium in Colorado Springs. Stefanie Sere / Rocky Mountain Community Radio
The Colorado Senior Games took place in Colorado Springs last June. Athletes over the age of 50 competed in a variety of sports, including track and field events, pickleball, and bowling. The games have different divisions by age, in five-year age groups.
The oldest competitor in the track and field events was 90-year-old Christel Donley. She participated in the 50-meter dash, javelin throw, and the triple jump. Donley was the meet director for the senior games in Pasadena, California, for almost 30 years.
Christel Donley runs in the 50-meter dash on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the Colorado Senior Games at the Garry Berry Stadium in Colorado Springs. Stefanie Sere / Rocky Mountain Community Radio
“I don’t know how many older people you have seen here, but yes, I think I beat everybody, age wise,” Donley boasted.
The first Colorado Senior Games began in the Centennial State in 1977. The games have been held annually, off and on, in Greeley until a hiatus back in 2018. This is the first time in history that the games were held in Colorado Springs, better known as Olympic City, U.S.A, where the games took place at different locations throughout the city.
The event this year was organized and co-hosted by YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region and Colorado Springs Sports Corporation (CSSC). Marketing, Communications, and Public Relations Manager for CSSC, Lauren DeMarco, said they were bringing it back after a hiatus for many years. ”There was definitely a void and a need for this with this demographic and with these athletes and individuals,” she said.
Dave Leighton from Parker, Colorado, took another shot at the high jump after his 17-year pause on the sport. Leighton came in second in his age group and third overall.
Dave Leighton from Parker stands proud with his silver medal at the Garry Berry Stadium for the Track & Field events for the Colorado Senior Games on Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Colorado Springs. Stefanie Sere / Rocky Mountain Community Radio
“I’m totally hooked back in. Like all the dudes that were jumping with me, they were just awesome dudes,” Leighton said. “That camaraderie that I had forgotten existed in this sport instantly clicked back.”
Not too far from the track, the sharp pop of pickleballs echoed through the indoor courts — unbothered by the sunny skies outside, the athletic action was all indoors at Springs Pickleball.
Brian Barkley with Pickleball is Great, is the commissioner and tournament director for the Colorado Senior Games this year. He said that a lot of indoor pickleball facilities are popping up all across the nation.
“It is the newest and latest and greatest thing playing indoors rather than playing outdoors. You don’t have the sun, the wind, the rain,” Barkley said. “You don’t have weather delays or cancellations. (You’re) almost guaranteed to always be playing.”
From women’s and men’s singles to mixed doubles, there is no doubt that pickleball is popular. The courts were packed with people aged 55 to 87 playing at different skill levels. There were a total of 160 players playing pickleball last weekend. 3,291 players are registered for the National Senior Games just for pickleball alone.
Pickleball players in an indoor facility at the Colorado Senior Games in Colorado Springs. Stefanie Sere / Rocky Mountain Community Radio
Loretta and David Mertz from Colorado Springs played mixed doubles in their first tournament together, getting gold medals after a slow start.
“We lost the first two and then we just started crushing it thereafter. We kind of got into our groove, so it was a blast,” Mr. Mertz said.
And that’s the sentiment of pickleball: it is always fun.
“We’re full-time retired, so we love pickleball. This is what we do. This and grandkids,” Loretta Mertz said cheerfully.
David and Loretta Mertz won their gold medal despite taking up the sport just a year ago. David Mertz says it’s easy to transition to pickleball from other racket sports.
“ People that have tennis, handball, ping pong experience, typically adapt to this a lot better. But for those that don’t have those kind of backgrounds, you can still take the beginning courses and just kind of go with it. Everybody’s doing it, and it is so much fun,” he said.
The oldest pickleball player was 87-year-old Arthur Anderson who won a gold medal on Friday.
From the track to the courts, the Colorado Senior Games proved that age is no obstacle to competition, camaraderie, or joy. Whether it was first-timers like the Loretta and David Mertz finding their groove in mixed doubles, veteran athletes like Christel Donley still blazing down the track, or longtime competitors rediscovering their spark, the spirit of the games shone bright in Colorado Springs.
This year, the Colorado Senior Games take place from June 5 – 7, 2026. You can find out more information on their website.