Michigan Senior Olympics: Local Athletes Going For The Gold, Including 101-Year-Old Track Star

ROCHESTER (WWJ) - It's not Rio, but it's the next best thing for more than 1,000 local athletes over the next two weeks: The Michigan Senior Olympics.

Opening ceremonies are Friday night ( 6 to 8 p.m.) at Rochester Municipal Park. Executive director Becky Ridky says athletes age 50 and older will compete in roughly 20 sports across Oakland County and while many athletes are there to have fun, it does get competitive.

"For sure, we have some extreme athletes that train all year round," Ridky told WWJ's Scott Ryan. "We do a triathlon and cycling events, there's some track and field, I mean there's some pretty intense events. Basketball and volleyball with our team sports, we have pickleball, tennis and swimming,."

And if you blink, you might miss one of the stars on the track.

"We have Fred Winter from Holland, Michigan, he is 101-years-old and he is competing in the 50 and 100 meter dash, as well as multiple field events, including high jump," said Ridky. "He's quite an impressive athlete."

The best of the best will compete next year at the National Senior Olympics in Alabama.

For more information, click here.