Illinois Senior Olympics' First Superstar

Lee Edwards | As of Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Baba Griot Leonard Lucas poses with his most recent Illinois Senior Olympic gold medals.
Baba Griot Leonard Lucas poses with his most recent Illinois Senior Olympic gold medals. Photo by Lee Edwards.

The Illinois Senior Olympics is providing opportunities for seasoned athletes to compete once a year at the state’s capitol, Springfield, for the chance to continue a lifelong pursuit of athletic and competitive excellence for its’ participants.

The first Illinois Senior Olympic was held October 7, 8 and 9 in 1977, the culminating result of Dr. Alfred Kamm’s idea to bring the games to Illinois after participating in a similar event in Florida. Dr. Kamm expressed the idea for the games to Springfield Recreation Department Director Charles Westphal and then a committee was created which would later become the Senior Olympic, Inc. The first Illinois Senior Olympics had 122 total athletes participating. For the 33rd Illinois Senior Olympics, 1,200 athletes participated.

The Illinois Senior Olympics take place in Springfield, IL each year as it is the only sanctioned site in the state. According to Coordinator of the Illinois Senior Games Deborah Staley, participants in the Olympics come from Indiana, Ohio, Iowa and Michigan in addition to Illinois residents. Medalists in the Illinois Senior Olympics have the opportunity to compete in the National Senior Games (NSGA) that take place alternating years in different cities in the country. This year, the 2013 National Senior Games Presented by Humana took place in Cleveland, OH July 19 to August 1.

The Illinois Senior Olympics offers these events for competition with the events being staged over the course of 10 non consecutives days:

Cycling, Triathlon, Pickleball Doubles/Mixed Doubles, Tennis, Pickleball Singles, Bridge, Badminton/Ropeskipping/Basketball Freethrow, Shuffleboard, Casting, Bowling, Billiards, Racquetball, Table Tennis, Miniature Golf, Shuffleboard/Horseshoes, 5K/10K RUN, Track & Field, Softball, Archery, Volleyball.

To qualify for the Olympics, age verification is done by checking potential participant’s driver license, birth certificate, etc. Participants must be at least 50 years old. The age groups are bracketed off by five year intervals: (50–54), (55–59), (60–64), (65–69), (70–74), (75–79), (80–84), (85–89), (90–94) and 95+.

Baba Griot Leonard Lucas, a Roseland resident for the past 30 years, has spent the last 18 years competing in the Illinois Senior Olympics where he has won “hundreds” of medals. Born on July 22, 1933, Lucas told the Chicago Citizen Newspaper, “Sometimes I can’t believe I’m 80 years old, I feel just that good.” At this year’s Illinois Senior Olympics, Leonard won four gold medals in free throws, billiards, horse shoes, and race walk.

A lifelong athlete, Lucas, a father of six, told the Chicago Citizen Newspaper he was a boxer at 17 years old when he was enlisted in the United States Air Force in July, 11 1951; and, won two consecutive Southern Junior Basketball Championships while at Natchez Junior College in 1956-1957. Instead of accepting one of 25 basketball scholarships to African American colleges and universities, Lucas moved to Chicago to support his family. He would later receive his degree from Chicago State University in 1972.

“I eat right, I excerise every day. I run three miles a day. Eating right, watching my attitude, don’t create no stress, and try people right as you want to be treating. I think that’s the secret to longevity. Exercising is medicine,” said Lucas.

When asked about his fellow competitors at the Illinois Senior Olympics, Lucas stated, “Most all of them down there have that will to live, that will to be active and stay in shape. Some of them have had strokes and came back and are now doing well. I’ve always been aggressive and wanted to win.”

For more information contact Springfield Park District-Senior Olympic Office at (217) 753-0700 and visit www.ilsenoly.org.

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