At 90 years old, Navy Veteran Maxine Bodman is a gold medal winner.

She was one of more than 600 Veterans competing at the 30th National Veterans Golden Age Games in Detroit from July 10-14. Bodman has competed at the Games for the past 14 years and her gold medal this year came in the shuffleboard competition for the 85+ year old age group.

“I do it because it keeps me active, mentally and physically,” Bodman said. “I played sports all my life and so I have a competitive edge and it just comes to the top whenever I enter these competitions.”

“You want to win. You strive to win. But, if you don’t win, then you have to be nice and polite and say ‘Congratulations,'” Bodman shared with a smile and a chuckle.  “I try to win.”

At the height of World War II, in 1943, Bodman enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where she served as a yeoman. You get a sense from listening to her that the same initiative that led her to enlist continues to drive her towards meeting her goals today.

“I look forward to the Games because then I have a reason for keeping myself well and in fairly good shape,”  she shared.  “As long as I can put one foot in front of the other, I will be back.”

 

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  1. Joye Lynn Barnes July 22, 2016 at 17:17

    I would very much like to become a volunteer in any capacity to help veterans in the Denver, Colorado area. I am not a veteran,but the daughter of a WWII veteran and friends with several. Thank you ,J.L. Barnes from Parker,CO

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