Bringing home the bling
Sharon Burlingame medals in eight events at Senior Games in Florida
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Anderson County’s Sharon Burlingame swims toward a medal at the Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
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Sharon Burlingame brought home the bling, medaling in all eight of her events in the 65- 69 age group at the recent Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale, Fla..
Sharon Burlingame of Anderson County recently won eight medals in the swimming competition as part of the National Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The games, a 20-sport, biennial competition for men and women 50 and over, is the largest multi-sport event in the world for seniors.
Despite uncooperative weather and event delays, she brought home the bling, medaling in all eight of her events in the 65-69 age group.
She contributed three of Tennessee’s 35 games’ gold medals by sweeping the 50-, 100-, and 200-yard backstroke.
She earned silver in the 200-yard butterfly and the 200-yard individual medley, and bronze in the 400-yard individual medley.
Relays were organized with swimmers from across Tennessee and Georgia, which netted her another silver and bronze.
She was a little disappointed that her 60-64 400 individual medley record was broken this year, but happy that it was her friend, Karen Bland from Kingsport.
“The senior games gives you opportunities to socialize with like-minded adults,” Burlingame said.
“At every competition I reunite with people I knew in college or high school or those that I’ve worked with in other states,” she said. “Competing also gives you goals to work towards when you’re training and exercising every week.”
She currently swims with TN Aquatics at the University of Tennessee and is coaching the East Tennessee Dolphins artistic swimming team with her daughter at the Clinton Community Center.
You can find out how to participate in the Tennessee Senior Olympics and National Senior Games at tnseniorolympics.com and nsga.com.