ira's abs

Marc Sokolik of St. Louis, Missouri has thrived on sports his whole life:

I STARTED THROWING THE SHOT PUT AT NAUTILUS JR HIGH (MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA), BUT IN HIGH SCHOOL AT 5’6″ AND 160 LBS, I WAS TOLD I WAS TOO SMALL TO THROW THE SHOT.

Marc Sokolik gives his all as he puts the shot—5/08

I HAVE STAYED INVOLVED IN SPORTS AND FITNESS THROUGHOUT MY LIFE. IN MY THIRTIES I PLAYED IN AN UNDER-SIX-FOOT BASKETBALL LEAGUE UNTIL I WAS 40 AND ALSO PLAYED QUARTERBACK IN A MEN’S FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE UNTIL I WAS 36.

ALL THE WHILE FOR RECREATION I HAVE GONE IN THE BACKYARD AND THROWN THE SHOT PUT JUST FOR FUN AND THE CHALLENGE OF SEEING HOW FAR I COULD THROW IT.

IN THE EARLY NINETIES WHEN I TURNED 50, ST. LOUIS CREATED A SENIOR OLYMPICS (NOT SURE WHAT YEAR), AND I STARTED THROWING THE SHOT COMPETITIVELY ALONG WITH THE OTHER EVENTS, AND I HAVE JUST KEPT DOING IT. I DO NOT COMPETE AGAINST THE OTHERS, AS THEY ARE ALL BIGGER THAN ME STILL, BUT AS THEY DIE, BECOME UNABLE TO COMPETE OR JUST DROP OUT, LIKE THE ENERGIZER BUNNY, I JUST KEEP THROWING… AND BY THE TIME I AM 80 GOD WILLING, I SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE THE ONLY ENTRANT AND GET A GOLD MEDAL.

I DO WORK OUT DAILY DOING CARDIOVASCULAR AS A PART OF MY ROUTINE, AND THEN I MIX IN SMALL TO MEDIUM WEIGHTS FOR MUSCLE TONE AND STRENGTH OF WHICH I HAVE NEITHER.

I HAVE ATTACHED SOME PICTURES FR0M BOTH THE ARIZONA AND ST. LOUIS SENIOR OLYMPICS. IN BOTH OF THESE I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO SCORE BRONZE MEDALS WITH THROWS FOR 30-32′ TAKE CARE AND THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST.

Marc Sokolik (rt) takes the Bronze medal at the 2005 Arizona Senior Olympics