Annual Meet to Draw Older Set of Gymnasts

The annual Senior Olympic Gymnastics Meet set for Sunday at Valley College is open to anyone 20 and older, but organizers hint that the real action is in the upper age groups.

“All the old gymnasts come out of the woodwork. It’s a great way for us to keep up the tradition,” said Gary Honjio, a meet organizer and chairman of the college’s physical education department. “There was this lady here last year who was 65 or 66 years old and she did an awesome routine on the uneven bars. It shows you that even though you may be older, you can be young enough to do gymnastics, which is usually thought of as something for little kids.”

The cost is $2 for each of nine events for men, seven for women. Participants--usually about 50 or more, many of them former collegiate or amateur standouts--travel from other West Coast cities and even New York to take part in the meet. Keeping the meet open to the public and focusing on senior athletes has created a niche for it, Honjio said.

A popular event is the 20-foot rope climb, which used to be part of the Olympics.

“A lot of the guys in their 50s and 60s come out for that,” Honjio said. “They come here, compete and then go out to dinner with their wives. Some of the wives who never did it before have even started climbing.”

Registration begins at 10:30 a.m., with the meet starting at about 1 p.m. at the Gymnastics Center, on the corner of Ethel Avenue and Burbank Boulevard. Admission is free for spectators.

Those who are seeking information or are interested in volunteering as a judge or scorekeeper may call Valley College at (818) 781-1200, Ext. 212.