MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The 2015 National Senior Games ended with a local man bringing home the gold.
Howard Adams of Norwich recently won his first National Senior Games title, winning Table Tennis in the Men’s Single’s over-90 age group. In his first competition Adams took gold after winning every match in the round-robin tournament. Growing up in Sherburne and Norwich Adams knew the importance of physical fitness. “In 1960 I started doing the Canadian Air Force Exercise Program,” Adams said. “It only takes 12 minutes a day and I still keep doing it now.”
The program consists of five basic exercises which Adams does every morning. “I can attribute my good health to that program and staying active,” Adams said
All of his life Adams was a competitor and enjoyed playing table tennis against anyone who would play him. “I never really competed in tournaments,” Adams said. “I just liked to play against anyone who was good competition.”
Adams said that he would try and find players who were better than him so that he could improve on his own game.
Still in good shape, Adams decided in 2009 that he was going to compete in the New York State Senior games held in Cortland where he is now a multiple gold medalist in his age group. “This year I was invited to the national competition,” Adams said. “I wasn’t really sure about going until my daughter encouraged me to do it.”
After taking up the challenge, Adams went to Minneapolis where he won the gold by beating out the competition handily.
“I had never really played anyone my own age,” said the 90-year-old athlete. “I usually play a lot of young guys.”
Adams, who is still very active and exercises regularly, joked that nobody can ever guess his age anymore. He added that a lot of people are surprised to hear that he is 90 years old.
“I still feel pretty good,” Adams said about his health. “I’ll still make it up to the Chenango Valley Table Tennis Club in Sherburne to play.”