Summit veteran returns to Golden Age Games, wins medal in Tampa

Therese Mines-Anderson of Summit has found her retirement calling on the badminton court, bowling lane, and cornhole board.

The Air Force veteran, who served from 1979 to 1988 and left as a staff sergeant, competed in the National Veterans Golden Age Games in Tampa last week for the third time. She won a bronze medal in badminton and advanced in cornhole, adding to her collection from previous competitions in Iowa and Memphis.

“It’s great exercise and so many look forward to this,” Mines-Anderson said. “There are so many senior people that are kicking butt. They have medals around their neck and proud to show them off.”

Mines-Anderson discovered the games through a friend who had been competing for a decade. When she retired from her job four years ago, she had the time to join. Now she makes it a priority.

“I run into a gentleman from Arkansas at the games who was friends with Sam Walton,” she said. “It’s a great time to meet people from around the country. I absolutely encourage Veterans to do this. There are so many events. There’s something for everybody.”

This year’s games drew a record 1,400 Veterans and a record number of women competitors. The event featured 21 medaled sports across eight age categories and three divisions—ambulatory, visually impaired, and wheelchair.

Mines-Anderson competed in badminton, bowling, bocce, and cornhole. In past years, she competed in track and field events, including the long jump and 50-meter race.

Next year’s National Veterans Golden Age Games will be held at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland from June 22 to June 27. Mines-Anderson plans to be there.