[ad_1]
Dancers carry flags from around the world during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah, Oct. 9, 2018 | Photo by Spencer Ricks, St. George News
ST. george – The Huntsman World Senior Games return to southern Utah next week, with events starting Monday and running through Oct. 15.
As the annual event draws to a close, organizers announce the inductees to the World Senior Games Hall of Fame and a distinguished speaker at the opening ceremony.
According to a news release from the World Senior Games, the Hall of Fame recognizes “extraordinary men and women who exemplify the game’s vision for global peace, health and friendship.”
“We are very proud to connect with this year’s audience,” CEO Kyle M. Case said in a news release. “Each one is an example of what the games are about. They make active aging their lifestyle and we wish each of them the best of luck.
The 2022 Huntsman World Senior Games Hall of Famers include:
Jim & Yvonne Hackenberg
Jim and Yvonne Hackenberg are arguably the winningest pickleball couple to date. As a 12-year participant in the Huntsman World Senior Games, Yvonne won 26 gold medals in pickleball. She won nine of these medals in mixed, (eight with her husband Jim) and 17 women’s gold medals with her partner. Jim has been playing pickleball in games for 11 years. He won 23 gold medals during his competitive career. He devoted a lot of time to the sport and the games as a judge.
Irina Helwig
Helvig was passionate about sports medicine and table tennis throughout her life. Her Blue Badge Umpire status allows her to participate in various table tennis tournaments. She has been participating as a competitor and judge at the Huntsman World Senior Games for 25 years.
Dick Johnson
Johnson is one of the most decorated players in pickleball history. He has won 15 medals, including multiple golds, at the Huntsman World Senior Games for the past seven consecutive years. He also won 230 medals in 116 other competitions held in 17 different states.
Ronald D. Jones
Jones began participating in the Hantman World Senior Games in 2011. He has won more than 50 medals in these various sports.
Maria Cristina ‘Kika’ Lajusticia
Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Kika has always loved playing sports. After a break from the sport at the age of 35, Kika continued her volleyball journey at the Brazilian Masters program. In this program, Lajusticia and many of her friends competed in Brazil and abroad. Since 2007, she has been participating in the Hantman World Senior Games Global Cup as a player and manager of the Brazilian team. Under her management, her Brazilian team won the gold medal in 2011.
Fred Tamagawa
This year, Tamagawa is celebrating its 30th anniversary at the Huntsman World Senior Games. He spent his life playing all kinds of sports. Tamagawa has been involved in major softball since the Salt Lake City Major League. In the year He was inducted into the Utah Softball Hall of Fame in 1997.
Alice Tim
Tim has been inducted into several Halls of Fame as a player and coach. She will be 14 this year.Th The year you compete in the Huntsman World Senior Games. She excelled in tennis, badminton, table tennis and pickleball, winning many medals in all sports.
The honorees will be inducted into the Hantman World Senior Games Hall of Fame in a special ceremony on Wednesday.
The opening ceremony will be held Monday evening at Great Zion Stadium on the campus of Utah Tech University. The athletes’ parade will begin at 7 p.m. The event will include an address by Olympic silver medalist Bill Schuffenhauer, who won the bobsled. A fireworks display will conclude the ceremony.
Admission is free, and organizers encourage families to enjoy an evening of entertainment and inspiration, according to the news release. The pre-event BBQ Bash will be free to the first 1,000 people to attend.
Schuffenhauer grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the year He won the junior nationals in 1992 while a student at Weber State University. He was a member of the 4-man bobsled team at the Salt Lake City Olympic Games. He and his friends continue to win the silver medal.
Click here to view a complete schedule of events.
Click here for the Huntsman World Senior Games home page.
[ad_2]
Source link
