This year’s Arizona Senior Olympic swimming competition took place on February 25 at the Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center in Chandler. The swim meet started at 7:30 in the morning when the temperature was in the high 30s. Fortunately, the pool was heated to competition temperature, and the air got somewhat warmer as the meet proceeded. Despite the chilly start, hundreds of swimmers, timers, and organizers gathered for this ‘even year’ event, which is the qualifying event for the ‘odd year’ National Senior Olympics, for which Albuquerque has been selected the host city in 2019.
Quail Creek resident Bob Smith participated in this year’s competition, medaling in three events: 200-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle, and 50-yard butterfly, thus qualifying him for these events at the 2019 Albuquerque games. Regardless of results, it was a great day of getting reacquainted with former friends and meeting some new ones, all with a common love of competitive swimming. For those interested in next year’s state games, please visit http://www.seniorgames.org/.