An Athlete With a Golden Touch

At 65, Gail Henry is proof it’s never too late to redefine one’s life.

The Army veteran and AARP Florida volunteer from Jacksonville competed in the National Veterans Golden Age Games last summer in Salt Lake City. She earned medals in pickleball, swimming and golf — not a bad haul for her first attempt at competitive sports.

Now Henry is training for this year’s games, starting May 31 in Memphis.

Henry, who served from 1981 to 1995, turned to sports at the urging of a Department of Veterans Affairs whole health nurse who was concerned about her isolation and depression.

At first, she was hesitant. “I don’t do sports, so I don’t think I’m going to like it,” Henry recalls saying. But she started attending weekly activities and soon was looking forward to them. She felt a mild lifting of her depression.

“I still participate with these same people.... They call me, they encourage me, and it’s great,” Henry says.

This year, she’s adding two new events: cycling and basketball free throw.

The National Veterans Golden Age Games are a multisport competition for veterans aged 55 and older; in 2024, more than 800 veterans competed. This year’s games will feature more than two dozen competitive and exhibition events, from badminton and basketball, to golf and pickleball, across three divisions—ambulatory, wheelchair and visually impaired. Athletes compete in eight age groups, and medals are awarded to the top three finishers in each age group and division.

Henry credits the support of her coaches, teammates, children and grandchildren as she tackled a new experience that felt scary but also exciting. Her positive outlook plays a part, too.

“I’m just beginning to live this marvelous life that God has given me.”

—Stacey Shepard