| Tweet |
72-year-old Bluffton swim instructor will carry the torch at the Senior Olympics
Ah, to be young at heart ... and in body. Nanalee Whalen is both.
The 72-year-old is a swim instructor in Bluffton and will be competing this month in the butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle swimming competitions at the Senior Olympics in Palo Alto, Calif. To top it off, she’ll also be a torchbearer at the Senior Olympics. We spent some time with Whalen recently to try to figure out the secret to her success.
Question: When did you learn to swim?
Answer: I learned to swim when I was 7-years-old. I went on a city bus to downtown Columbus, Ohio, and walked several city blocks to the YWCA every Saturday for a year. I know those swim lessons were the greatest gift my mom ever gave me. The gift of swimming is a gift of a lifetime.
Q: How do you do to stay in shape?
A: Well, swimming is the greatest exercise there is. It’s a gentle and efficient way to burn calories without putting a strain on the body. Also, I believe in eating well. Never skip breakfast. It’s probably the most important meal of the day.
Q: Was there ever a time you put on extra pounds?
A: Yes. I gained 57 pounds in the seven years I worked as a writer for the Baltimore Sunday Sun. I covered local chefs and restaurants, writing full descriptions of the recipes offered at each establishment. Of course, I tasted everything before I wrote about it, so the pounds accumulated with each assignment.
Q: What do you enjoy when you’re not swimming?
A: I love plays. (Husband) John and I recently saw “Menopause, the Musical” at the Arts Center. Here in Sun City, we saw a magnificent production of “The King and I” at Magnolia Hall. I love to read when I have the time.
Q: What advice would you give to seniors who want to stay in shape?
A: Eat fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Find an exercise you can enjoy every day and give it top priority.
Q: What do all the medals on your walls represent?
A: Some of my national medals include the 2001 Senior Games at Baton Rouge; the 2003 Senior Games at Hampton Roads and 2005 Senior Games in Pittsburgh;
and also, in 2005 the National Pentathlon Ironman gold medal.
Q: Is there some goal you still want to achieve?
A: The National Gold Medal has always eluded my grasp. But, the rewards I feel each day as I see people regain the ability to walk and exercise is beyond measure. My heart overflows with happiness and pride. I always go home exhausted, but at peace with the world. My ambition is to be still swimming and competing when I’m in my 90s.
Who: Nanalee Whalen, National Senior Olympic champion swimmer
Family: Whalen and her husband, John, have two daughters, a son and six grandchildren. They’ve known each other for more than 50 years and often reminisce about their college days at Ohio State University. For most of their married life they’ve lived in Severna Park, Md. For the past 12 years they’ve resided in Sun City Hilton Head.
What makes her special: Whalen will be a torchbearer this month at the Senior Olympics in Palo Alto, Calif. Doug Bennett, communications specialist at Humana Corporation, one of the sponsors of the National Senior Olympics, said, “Our corporation, dedicated to healthy living for seniors, ran an essay contest to choose the three torchbearers allotted to our company. When we read Nana Whalen’s essay, coupled with her remarkable record of wins in senior swimming events, we knew she would be an outstanding choice as our pick for torchbearer this year.”
