{"id":8116,"date":"2024-09-04T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-04T12:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8116"},"modified":"2024-09-04T12:30:00","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T12:30:00","slug":"phoenix-veteran-a-success-story-at-golden-age-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8116","title":{"rendered":"Phoenix Veteran a success story at Golden Age Games"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published:<\/strong> 2024-09-04T12:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n

Marine Corps Veteran Steve Newkirk, 70, was excited about competing with fellow Veterans during the 38th National Veterans Golden Age Games.<\/p>\n

\n
<\/a>
Veteran Steve Newkirk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The games offer Veterans ages 55 and older a chance to compete in sports and learn new skills through exhibitions. Through its \u201cFitness for Life\u201d motto, the games demonstrate the value that sports, wellness and fitness provide to encourage older Veterans to stay active.<\/p>\n

When Newkirk first moved to Arizona in 2016, his physician recommended that he get involved in the adaptative sports program. \u201cI was missing a leg and my physician really thought it would help with my overall fitness,\u201d Newkirk shared.<\/p>\n

\u201cA wonderful experience and I\u2019ve been participating ever since.\u201d<\/h2>\n

Through the adaptative sports program, Newkirk met other Veterans who were part of the games and they invited him to participate to see what it was about. \u201cI traveled to Anchorage for the games and played pickleball, air rifle, boccia ball and golf. It was a wonderful experience and I\u2019ve been participating ever since,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

During this year\u2019s games, Newkirk participated in 20K bicycle recumbent, 5K bicycle recumbent, golf, air rifle and pickleball.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing a part of the National Veterans Golden Age Games has been a really great experience for me. As an amputee, there are many sports I wouldn\u2019t have tried but adaptive sports encouraged me to stay active. It\u2019s kept me active,\u201d he added. \u201cAdaptive Sports is a great opportunity to support other disabled Veterans and get involved in a variety of new sports. I just recently became a certified pickleball coach and can now link that back to the Phoenix VA<\/a> adaptive sports program and Golden Age Games. I guess you could say I am a success story.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The National Veterans Golden Age<\/a> Games is held annually and is a qualifying event for the National Senior Games.<\/p>\n

\n

Source: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Steve Newkirk\u2019s physician recommended he get involved in the adaptative sports program. Now he\u2019s competing in the Golden Age Games.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":318,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[34],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8116","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-veteran-stories"],"yoast_head":"\nPhoenix Veteran a success story at Golden Age Games - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Steve Newkirk\u2019s physician recommended he get involved in the adaptative sports program. 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