Huntsman World Senior Games Active Life

Send us a text We are almost halfway through this year's Huntsman World Senior Games. Kyle and Mindy give an update on some highlights from the first week of competition and festivities.

Send us a text Michelle Rohl was a 15-time All-American during her time at University of Wisconsin-Parkside and National Champion in the 1000-meter and two-mile during her college middle-distance running career. After trying racewalking for fun, she used it to train when she suffered from Achilles tendonitis. Michelle eventually switched to racewalking, qualifying for the U.S. Nationals in 1989 and finishing 10th. After having her first child in 1990, Michelle focused on racewalking, becoming a three-time U.S. Olympian (1992, 1996, 2000), winning 22 national titles, and holding every American record from 3k to 30k simultaneously. She retired in 2004 to focus on family and home-schooling, but in 2018, she returned to running, winning the 800m at the Master's Championships. In 2022, Michelle set multiple American records in distances from 800m to 10k. A concussion in April of 2023 led her back to racewalking, but it took until December for her to recover to full, healthy training. 2024 has been a monumental year where she capped the year by winning four golds at the World Championships and Pan Am Games, setting nine American records and three world records. This mother of five recently became a grandmother at the age of 58 and qualified for the Olympic Trials. She finished third, and though she did not compete in the Paris Olympics, it was the most widely publicized event from the trials.

Send us a text Dr. Mike Alosco is a clinical neuropsychologist and Associate Professor of Neurology at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, where he serves as the Director of the BU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center Clinical Core. He serves as the Director of Neuropsychology at the Memory and Aging Clinic at Boston Medical Center. Dr. Alosco’s career has been devoted to study methods to detect and diagnose neurodegenerative diseases, particularly CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy). He has over 200 peer-reviewed publications in this field and is the Principal Investigator of multiple NIH-funded grants. He assisted in the development and publication of diagnostic research criteria for the clinical syndrome of CTE. Dr. Alosco’s research has laid the foundation for the development and validation of ways to detect and diagnose CTE during life, and he hopes his work will ultimately lead to the development of strategies to treat and prevent CTE and Alzheimer’s disease. To learn more about some studies that are working to find important cures, visit bankcte.org or hitss.org .

Send us a text From bobsled champion to creating globally renowned sports nutrition, Sandy Kellin is an all-round authority on sport. Sandy’s early background included football, boat racing, and flight instruction. At the track at the 1976 Innsbruck Olympics, the former collegiate football player stood next to the bobrun, watching bobsledders race down and he was hooked! He barely missed the 1980 Olympics after a crash injured his 4-man team. In the 90s, Sandy’s focus became health and fitness, so for the next 3 decades, he traveled to over 25 countries promoting Pharmanex, EuroNutrition and Xendurance nutritional products to medical professionals and sports enthusiasts, while. At age 75, Sandy showed us all how to age by doing incline dumbbell press with 75 pound dumbbells, 20 times on his 75th birthday. To learn more, visit xendurance.com .

Send us a text Lisa Lander, a mother to four physicians, grandmother, and wife of 42 years, is a certified life coach and owner of Lander’s River Trips, an adventure company. She's also known for her brand "Adventures of Lolly." Lisa is a passionate athlete who advocates evidence-based changes to enhance health, happiness, and longevity. She focuses on optimizing nutrition, exercise, mindset, and sleep through discipline and lifelong learning. Exercise, particularly strength training, core stability, and cardiovascular fitness, holds a central role in her well-being philosophy. Lisa, at 63, recognizes the difference between her chronological and biological age and actively makes lifestyle choices to slow her biological clock. She wants to be an inspirational example for women in their 60s embarking on the second half of their lives, showcasing the possibilities of this stage. Amy Twiggs is a former elite gymnast who made the National Team and went on to compete at Stanford University. She is a wife and mother of four, a #1 best-selling author, and former owner of a mindset coaching business for athletes and a gymnastics facility. Amy loves learning, mountain biking, and finding ways to grow, both personally and through helping others. She, too, is a certified life coach; she and Lisa met at The Life Coach School.

Send us a text John Disterdick plays to win in all areas of his life: while he primarily has experience in financial services and film production, he also has a law degree, an MBA, a master’s degree in financial services, and an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering. John has acting experience in over 30 commercials and film and is a national award winner in speed skiing, triathlons, swimming, rowing, and superkart racing. Other interests include motorcycling, boxing, horseback riding, and scuba diving. John is a veteran, serving in the 82nd Airborne Division, who began competing with the Huntsman World Senior Games in 2021. In that short time, he has amassed 45 medals (16 are gold) across 19 events. If that is not enough, John also creates videos for “RedefiningAging.us,” a non-profit organization whose goal is to motivate viewers toward higher levels of health and fitness.

Send us a text Travis Porter, hailing from Coalville, Utah, had a childhood deeply steeped in sports, influenced greatly by his grandfather, Francis Porter, a semi-professional baseball player. Although initially focused on baseball, Travis shifted gears after starting a family. His passion for sports persisted as he pursued spots on Olympic teams for shooting and bobsled, albeit without success. Currently residing in Brigham City, Utah, Travis serves as General Manager at Mineral Resources International, aligning with his mission to enhance people’s lives through health solutions. In 2023, Travis briefly worked as a Director of Sports at the Huntsman World Senior Games, fostering a profound appreciation for the event's organizers and volunteers. His diverse career includes owning a restaurant, working with the Utah Jazz, and contributing to the United States Senate. Travis's involvement with MRI underscores his commitment to improving public health through mineral supplements. Throughout his varied career, Travis has always been dedicated to enhancing the lives of others.

Send us a text Starting golf at 10, Karen Pearce achieved a handicap of 4 by age 14 and represented Queensland and Australia in multiple championships. At the time of turning professional at the age of 22, she played off a handicap of +2, the lowest marker in Australia at the time. After 14 years as a touring professional golfer on the European Ladies’ Golf Tour from 1991-2001 and LPGA in the US from 1998-2005, she also currently plays in Australia on the WPGA Tour, which she started playing on in 1991. In 2000, she received the Australian Sports Medal for her service to golf. Fifty-five-year-old Karen has also represented Australia in tennis, competing in the over-35 and over-45 World Championships. She has won 16 Individual ITF (International Tennis Federation) Seniors Singles titles since 2011, including recently when she played down 4 age groups and won the singles, doubles, and mixed events!

Send us a Text Message. David Rosin is the Archery - 3D sports director here at the Huntsman World Senior Games. A former prison guard in California for 28 years and drummer throughout his life, David has always loved staying active. He grew up playing baseball and David’s dad and brother got him into archery at the age of 13. In his late 20s, David decided to take up racquetball, which he continued for many years. However, when he moved to St. George in 2018, David acquired his current passion of pickleball, which he plays 5 days a week. Outside of sport, David has also been on the Washington County Search and Rescue ground team for the last 6 years.

Send us a text Kimberly Melton is a seasoned registered dietitian with experience in the health and wellness industry, specializing in nutrition and wellness for longevity. She utilizes a virtual telehealth platform to reach clients of all ages and across diverse socioeconomic and health backgrounds. Her passion is enhancing quality of life, focusing particularly on digestive health, cognitive function, weight management, and challenges associated with menopause. Outside of her professional endeavors, Kimberly finds joy in outdoor activities such as kayaking, hiking, cycling, and running, often with her husband, children, and grandchildren. She firmly believes that staying active and embracing life at every stage are essential to a healthy lifestyle.

Send us a text Shalee Johansen is the Vice President of Sponsorship and Partner Relations here at the Huntsman World Senior Games. Shalee has over 25 years of extensive experience in tourism and real estate. She enjoys renovating old homes and buildings and even is an alpaca farmer! As a county director of tourism in Northern Utah, a board member of The Helper Project, and executive director of a trails committee, Shalee promoted her passion for all that Carbon County and the city of Helper have to offer. Den Dutson is a co-director of sports at the Huntsman World Senior Games. He is also a world champion in Olympic Taekwondo and the former owner of Denda Academy of Martial Arts. Den studied Korean studies at Seoul National University and majored in both Korean studies and business at Brigham Young University. Den has been involved in organizing international sports events and leading programs aimed at fostering leadership and personal growth among participants. At Denda Academy, the highest quality martial arts, self defense, bully prevention, and personal development were provided to students of all ages. Michael Hale is a co-director of sports at the Huntsman World Senior Games. Michael is a Washington state native who now loves living in beautiful St. George. As a fairly recent graduate of Brigham Young University - Idaho with a degree in recreation management, Michael enjoys working in parks and recreation. He has coordinated and created programs for thousands of youth, adults, and seniors and believes the hard work is worth it when he sees the joy in participants’ faces.

Send us a text DonnaJean Wilde hails from Welling, Canada in the Alberta province. She has been a teacher, coach, and vice principal in her career, and she relishes time with her 5 kids and 12 grandchildren. A runner for most of her life, DonnaJean now loves to skip, also known as jumping rope, and she and her husband work out almost daily in their home gym. She has never been the type to want to steal the spotlight, but she is now being recognized for her recent world record of holding the longest time in an abdominal plank position by a female. What started out as an exercise she could do with a broken wrist has grown to something special. The previous record was 4 hours, 19 minutes, and 55 seconds, and she surpassed it with a time of 4 hours, 30 minutes, and 11 seconds. To see the record-breaking event, visit: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/rWT45cFTXXI?feature=share

Send us a text Wisconsin native Kris Rostas is a running enthusiast through and through. At 61 years old, this mother of two has chosen a lifestyle devoid of a couch or television, instead opting to lace up her running shoes every day. While she participated in cross country briefly as a youth, she took up running mostly after her grown children ventured out on their own. The Zion half marathon was life changing and fueled her desire to run more. Pushing her limits, Kris achieved remarkable milestones, including logging an impressive 132 miles in just one week. Among her favorite memories is the B2B challenge, where she conquered both the Boston and Big Sur marathons, each in under 3.5 hours, a mere ten days apart. Despite obstacles along her way, Kris remains undeterred, bolstered by the unwavering support of her running community.

Send us a text Lara Ray excelled in track, cross country, and soccer during her youth, ultimately thriving as a fullback in the Olympic Development Program. While on a soccer scholarship at the University of California, Santa Barbara, she acquired an art degree. Lara continued her soccer career with the Southern California Blues semi-professional team until knee injuries led her to shift to marathon running, triathlons, and duathlons. Alongside a 23-year career as a highway patrol officer in California, Lara is an active philanthropist, organizing fundraisers for various causes. In her leisure time, she enjoys painting beach rocks, showcasing her artistic talent.

Send us a text Jason Curtis is a highly experienced strength and conditioning coach and bestselling author who has published over a dozen books on the development of health, fitness and sports performance. He owns and runs a strength and conditioning gym in the UK and works with hundreds of clients and athletes each week. Alongside the gym, Jason is the founder of The SCC Academy, which has qualified and upskilled over 20,000 fitness professionals and enthusiasts worldwide. Prior to founding his companies, Jason worked as a British Army Physical Training Instructor (PTI), working to prepare infantry soldiers to deploy on operations. Jason recently founded a fitness race called the Deadly Dozen that is designed to be one of the hardest yet most accessible races in the world, and hundreds of competitors are over the age of 60. For more information, you can visit https://deadlydozen.co.uk/ .

Send us a text Sanjoy Bhattacharya was born in India and grew up in the Chicago area, finishing all of his education there as an MBA, CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and CFP (Certified Financial Planner). He retired at the age of 41 and moved to St. George 25 years ago. Sanjoy has not slowed down one bit since retiring: he has taken classes in 48 straight semesters at the Utah Tech ICL (Institute for Continued Learning); enjoys playing 4 sports each week: pickleball, racquetball, table tennis, and golf; volunteers at multiple venues weekly; and enjoys traveling with his wife (75+ countries so far). He is also a member of a couple of book clubs and several cards and board game groups. He is part of a team that plays pub trivia two evenings a week. Additionally, Sanjoy is a table tennis co-director for the Huntsman World Senior Games and was instrumental in bringing NeuroPong to our Games. If you have ever wondered how another paddle sport, pickleball, got started, you should listen to hear a brief summary of its history.

Send us a text Dr. Gordon Larsen, M.D., FACEP is an emergency medicine specialist at St. George Regional Hospital and has over 32 years of experience in the medical field. He graduated from University of Utah medical school in 1991 and completed his emergency medicine residency in Peoria, Illinois at St. France Medical Center. He also completed a wilderness medicine fellowship with the Wilderness Medical Society in Salt Lake City, UT and has been the medical advisor for the EMS and search and rescue programs for Zion National Park since 1996. Outside of work, Dr. Larsen enjoys rock climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking, and snow sports. He has participated in the Huntsman World Senior Games for the past 13 years in mountain biking and triathlon, and he is very excited for climbing this year. Dr. Larsen and his wife Debra are the proud parents of 5 children and 15 grandchildren.

Send us a text Scott Nielsen is a businessman by day and an equestrian by night. He is currently a project manager and developer at the Black Desert Resort in Ivins, UT and holds an MBA from University of California, Irvine. However one of the biggest challenges of his life happened earlier this year as he completed a 10-day ultra-endurance horse race deep in the wilds of Patagonia in Southern Argentina called the Gaucho Derby. Not only does this race test your equestrian skills as each day covers 500 kilometers, but it also challenges your wilderness and navigation skills.

Send us a text After many years in a primarily sedentary lifestyle, John Challis’s health journey began more than two decades ago at the invitation of some friends to go workout early mornings at the high school gym. Initially, he focused on strength training, and several years in, he added walking on the indoor track. Once he joined a gym, he progressed to more aerobic training and started to make changes in his diet. These steps in the right direction helped him survive a widowmaker heart attack in 2008 and propelled him to a deeper commitment in personal health and fitness. Since the beginning of this journey, he lost 100 pounds, even through setbacks including a celiac disease diagnosis and a cornea transplant. With the direct support of his wife Julie, John is now at full strength at the age of 65, he works out at the gym most days of the week, and they recently returned from a month-long backpacking trip around England, averaging 17,000 steps each day.

Send us a text Kay Glynn is a 70-year-old grandmother of 8 who currently resides in Missouri. She began dancing and acrobatics at the age of 4, and this led to owning her own dance and acrobatics studio for over 20 years. Kay was also a high school track and field phenom who held Iowa’s state long jump record for 30 years. Following graduation, she stepped away from the sport for many years and then resumed near the age of 50, setting national and world records for nearly a decade. Unfortunately, years of high-impact competition took a toll on her body, and she experienced hip dysplasia that led to severe arthritis and required surgeries to resurface both hips to relieve the pain. Despite these setbacks, she has once again risen to the top: at the age of 68, Kay set a new age group world record in pole vault, and a year later, she scored the highest heptathlon point total among men and women ages 65-69 in the National Masters Indoor Combined Events Championships.