University City Couple Go For The Gold At Senior Olympics

It’s not often that you meet adults who are looking forward to getting older but Mark and Peggy Shamleffer, University City residents, have been looking forward for a while to turning 50 so they could compete in the St. Louis Senior Olympics.

“You have to have something at 50 to look forward to,” Peggy, who along with her husband Mark hit the half-century mark at the end of 2010, said. “Be fit at fifty; that was our goal.”

They commemorated their milestone birthdays last year by participating in a century bike ride (100 miles) and also by hiking in and out of the Grand Canyon in one day.

For their first year as Senior Olympians, they both have entered several events including four cycling races, playing on a co-ed volleyball team and co-ed doubles badminton.

“We’re aware that the other badminton teams are competitive; plus we haven’t played in 10 years,” Mark said. “We thought we’d get out there and just do it.”

Peggy signed up for a total of 12 events. “In addition to cycling, badminton and co-ed volleyball I’m doing singles racquetball, basketball free-throw, around-the-world, 5,000 meter and 400 meter runs, soccer kick and golf tournament,” Peggy said. “I signed up for all these events and figure next year I can refine them. It should be fun; we have no expectations.”

Mark is also registered for singles racquetball and soccer kick. As of Friday morning, Peggy had already won four medals in her age group; one for each cycling event.

Active in sports since high school, the couple stay fit by running, biking and playing racquetball, golf and tennis. Since their home is not too far from Forest Park, they use it all the time. Mark and Peggy met while attending Mizzou where they participated in intramural competitions.

So far, they are both enjoying their experiences in the Senior Olympics.

“We met some people today that are really nice. I can see how other competitors can become friends for years since you meet people who are like you and like to be active,” Mark said.

This year's St. Louis Senior Olympics runs through Tuesday, May 31. Twelve hundred athletes are participating in 85 events at 13 venues.