ATHLHEETAESD OGFO ETSH HE E2R0E18 FSG
seniors to stay fit and healthy by walking for
30 minutes a day and to join the Good Life
Games.
Deal is also the author of the “Longevity and
Vitality,” program, which enhances the lives
of people age 50 and over by participating in
activities that allow them to live longer and
better.
He has incorporated the Longevity and
Vitality program into the Good Life Games
and had more than 50 participants in the
2018 Games.
“It helps to add years to life and life to
years,” said Deal, citing the saying is the
mission of the Longevity and Vitality program.
Besides getting people into the pool to
become more active, Joan Campbell wants
to be sure they’re doing it right.
Campbell began swimming at the age of 59
in the Connecticut Senior Games and began
swimming in the Florida Senior Games
in 1997. As someone who worked in the
finance industry during her days, she’s a
stickler for details.
“I want people not only to be involved in
swimming but being involved in swimming
correctly,” she said. “I also want to encourage
officials to do a good job in training swimmers
to do strokes properly.”
Since 1997, Campbell has competed in
consistently in the Florida Senior Games and
is a record holder in the 400 Meter IM event in
the 85-89 age group. At the 2015 Florida Senior
Games, in Clearwater, she swam with her
daughter, Deborah Howard, who traveled from
North Syracuse, N.Y., to swim in six events.
She served as the Florida Senior Games
liaison, for 19 years, for the local U.S.
Masters Swimming Association. In that
role, she worked to expand Senior Games
athletes’ opportunities to include U.S.
Masters Swimming events. Her role also
included that Florida Senior Games swimmers
were following proper techniques to thrive in
their local, state and national events.
“The Senior Games swimmers spend a
lot of money to travel to the Games on
the state and national level and it can be
very discouraging if they end up getting
disqualified,” Campbell said. “I want the
athletes not only to be involved, but involved
correctly.”
With Florida Senior Games advocates and
mentors like Joann Sampson, Walt Deal
and Joan Campbell, the event is assured to
continue well into its third fourth and fifth
decade.
2018 FLORIDA SENIOR GAMES PRESENTED BY HUMANA · SOUVENIR PROGRAM · 9
Joann Sampson could
be the FSG’s “Official
Greeter Of The Track.”
Joan Campbell, right, competed
with her daughter, Deborah
Howard, in the 2015 FSG.