Don Savage, 98, throws a horseshoe during competition at the Chicago Park District’s Senior Games. Savage said he has earned a “barrelful” of gold medals during his more than 20 years of Senior Games competition. (Photo by Kevin Beese/for Chronicle Media)

Don Savage knew he was in for tough competition during his events in the Chicago Park District’s Senior Olympics.

“I’m competing with the kids,” the 98-year-old Savage quipped about being put in the 80-and-Over Division.

The resident of Chicago’s Sauganash neighborhood has been competing in the Senior Olympics for more than 20 years. He plans to compete in eight events during the Games, which run through the end of September.

On a beautiful late summer day last week, Savage and other Chicago seniors decked out in their green Senior Games T-shirts competed in the horseshoes competition at Welles Park, located in the city’s Lincoln Square neighborhood.

“It is important to keep moving,” Savage said as one of his reasons for competing. “People retire and want to sit on the couch. That is not a healthy thing to do.”

Savage, who said he has won “a barrelful” of gold medals during his more than two decades competing in the Games, was a big 16-inch softball player in his younger days.

“That was my game,” Savage said.

The Senior Games are open to Chicago residents 55 years of age and older who are in good physical health. Participants have the opportunity to compete in a variety of sporting events held at various parks throughout the city. Events include track and field, swimming, bowling, bocce, golf, horseshoes, fishing and basketball free-throw shooting.

The Games opened Aug. 29 with a ceremony at Maggie Daley Park and will conclude Sept. 29 with a brunch at the South Shore Cultural Center. Participants also get to attend a Chicago White Sox game as part of their $25 registration fee.

Lillian Degand follows through on her horseshoe throw as Linda Voss looks on during Senior Games competition. (Photo by Kevin Beese/for Chronicle Media)

Charlie Tribe, program manager for the Park District, said the annual event is a chance for seniors to get together, exercise and share some laughs.

“It is so, so important for them to be able to come to this,” Tribe said as the horseshoe competition was going on at Welles. “They totally enjoy the chance to get together every year.”

Tribe said the Park District would like to see more individuals in their 50s and 60s competing in the Games, noting that many individuals in that demographic think of the Games as only being for 70- and 80-year-olds.

Adrian Loza, athletics manager for the Park District, said there is definitely a sense of community among the Senior Games participants.

“They love coming together. They know each other,” Loza said. “There is a lot of camaraderie.”

Walter Kindred, a resident of the Southeast Side, said he took getting knocked out of the horseshoes competition as a learning experience.

“I learned that if I work on my game I could be a winner too,” he laughed. “I am going to popularize horseshoes, make it worldwide. I plan on going to compete in 2020 in Japan.”

Lillian Degand said she has been involved in Park District events her entire life so being part of the Senior Games is a natural for her.

“I was a Chicago Park District girl,” the South Loop resident said, remembering going to the shelter house at Hawthorne Park (now King Park) near her home growing up to participate in activities.

Erik Godvik finishes a throw during the Senior Games’ horseshoe competition. (Photo by Kevin Beese/for Chronicle Media)

The retired Chicago Public School teacher said she has fond memories of her time at the Park District facility.

“We would swim up at Hawthorne,” Degand said. “There was horseshoes, tennis and softball at the shelter house. I was never home. I was there five days a week.”

Erik Godvik said he got involved in the Games 10 years ago to just compete in the bowling and tennis events. Now, the 72-year-old resident of Chicago Gompers Park neighborhood, participates in a variety of events.

“I started doing more stuff,” Godvik said. “I think it’s great the Park District offers all these events.”

Individuals interested in competing in remaining Senior Games events can get information by going to http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/events/Senior-Games-2016-at-Various-Locations/ or calling (312) 747-5123.

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