Forty-five years ago this fall, a Western Illinois University physical education professor’s vision of an Olympics- inspired event for adults over 50 came to life with the first-ever Senior Olympics (now called Senior Games) on Western’s Macomb campus the following spring. Four-plus decades later, the weekend event continues, with the 2026 Western Illinois Senior Games set for April 24-25.
The 44th Annual Senior Games will begin with 18-hole and 9-hole golf competitions at 9 a.m., Friday, April 24, at WIU’s Harry Mussatto Golf Course. Other events that will take place on Friday include swimming at Macomb’s YMCA; pickleball and corn hole at the WIU Student Recreation Center, and bowling at Digger’s College City Bowl. A social hour, dinner and entertainment will be held Friday evening.
Saturday’s opening ceremony will kick-off the morning at 8 a.m. at Hanson Field, followed by track and field events throughout the morning. Free-throw shooting, table tennis and pickleball will take place at the WIU Student Recreation Center starting at 10 a.m., and disc golf will close out the 2026 games at 1 p.m. at Western’s Sipolt Memorial Disc Golf Course on the south side of campus.
“The new name change achieves the goal of being more inclusive for promoting greater camaraderie and community, while challenging ageism. We recognize that some individuals are not comfortable in a competitive environment, yet still recognize the importance of regular physical activity and exercise for lifelong health and wellness,” said WIU Exercise Science Professor Tammi Bories, who is the Senior Games coordinator. “We applaud and encourage these goals just as much as those that are of a competitive nature.”
According to Bories, the Senior Games’ overall goals are to recognize continued preparation, performance and desire to lead a healthy lifestyle; bring individuals with similar goals and interests together to expand friendship networks, and showcase talents before an audience of fellow competitors, friends and student volunteers and to gain an appreciation for a commitment to lifelong physical activity and fitness.
The games were founded in Fall 1980 by the Men’s Physical Education Department Chair George Hermann, who passed away at the age of 98 on Jan. 14, 2018. The first regional games were held in Spring 1981 on WIU’s campus. Hermann also served as the state coordinator for the Illinois Regional Senior Olympics for 23 years, and set, and held, two records in the Illinois State Senior Olympics for many years.
Seventy-seven-year-old Mary Clark, a WIU alumnus, is a long-time Senior Olympics/Games participant, participating for at least 20 of the program’s 44 years. She holds records in the high jump (2004), hammer throw (2013), shot put (2025), javelin (2025) and free style swimming (2025). Clark said she has participated over the years for her health.
“I thought it would make me live longer and healthier, and it worked until about two years ago. I had to have my hip replaced last year and I’m getting treatment for my neck now,” she said with a laugh. “It might come full circle to bite me, but it has been a lot of fun going down that road. I’ve really done this essentially for my health and wellness, to meet friends and influence my enemies.”
Even with the recent injuries, Clark plans on being back this coming spring “the Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise.” Her journey into athletics actually began 20 years ago, in her 50s, when she took part in her first Senior Games, along with her older brother, John.
“I didn’t participate as a young woman in sports in high school or college because Title IX wasn’t a thing back then,” she explained. “But my brothers – three older and one younger – were all athletes when we were growing up, and when John told me he was coming here to do the Senior Games 20 years ago, I decided to join him and I started with the shot put and high jump.”
Her goal this year is to set another record in the hammer throw.
For more information, contact Bories at [email protected] or (309) 298-1981 or go to wiu.edu/ seniorgames for the most up-to-date information on the 2026 games. Registration will open March 1 on the website.
