Phil Case to Compete in Five Northern Virginia Senior Olympic Events

More than 35 residents will be going for gold this year when the Northern Virginia Senior Olympics (NVSO) begins Saturday, Sept. 15.

Many of the participating Greenspring residents have a long history with the NVSO and senior competitions.  Resident Phil Case, 82, first participated in the NVSO in 1994 in the 50-meter backstroke event.  Since then, Case has participated in the NVSO and the Virginia Senior Games every year, and has qualified numerous times for the National Senior Games.  “Last year was the most satisfying year at the NVSO so far; there was a lot of competition in my events,” said Case.

Next week, Case will be participating in three NVSO swimming events including the 50-meter backstroke, the 50-meter breaststroke, and the 50-meter freestyle, as well as singles tennis and doubles tennis.  “I’d say the backstroke is my best event,” said Case, who trains everyday with a specific routine.  Case uses the stationary bike for five minutes, stretches for 30 minutes, completes a dozen repetitions on eight different machines, lifts weights in three different positions, and spends 40 minutes swimming.   

At Virginia Senior Games last May, Case earned five gold medals in the 200-meter backstroke, the 200-meter freestyle, the 50-meter butterfly, the 100-meter backstroke, and the 100-meter individual medley.  He also received a silver medal in the 50-meter backstroke.   These results have earned Case a trip to the 2013 National Senior Games in Cleveland where he’ll compete in the same six events.

The one event Case remembers with the most pride is his seventh place finish in the 200-meter backstroke at the 1999 National Senior Games in Orlando, Fla.  “I have never been as thrilled as when I received that,” said Case.  That year, there were 19 participants in the 200-meter backstroke.  Just two years later in 2001, Case received a Bronze medal in the 200-meter backstroke at the National Senior Games in Baton Rouge, La.  All in all, Case estimates that he has earned between 140-150 medals and ribbons for local, state, and national senior events since 1994.

Case cites a number of reasons for wanting to stay physically active including the general importance of exercising to stay healthy, as well as the satisfaction he finds from participating in senior games.  “The games are a good incentive to stay fit,” said Case.  Case also finds that he’s become an even better athlete in the past twenty years.  “I’ve aged slowly,” Case said with a smile, “and I plan to compete as long as I can”.  He also credits his start in senior competitions to a former U.S. Naval Academy classmate with whom he worked out when he lived in Burke, Va.  “His participation and success really got me started,” said Case.

Greenspring is a repeat Gold Sponsor for the NVSO and will host the competition’s Wii bowling events for the fourth consecutive year in the community’s specially designed Wii bowling alley, featuring six virtual bowling lanes. 

About Greenspring: Greenspring is situated on a scenic 108-acre campus in Springfield, Virginia.  The community is home to nearly 2000 residents, many of which reside in the 1405 independent living units.  At Greenspring, over 200 resident-run and resident-driven programs promote an engaged, fulfilling lifestyle that is reflected in resident satisfaction levels that exceed the industry average.  Life at Greenspring offers a true sense of community and is an exciting alternative to the typical retirement community.  Additional information about Greenspring can be found at www.ericksonliving.com.