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Matt Blanchard is a Utah-based motivational speaker, devoted husband, and proud father of three. His journey is one of resilience, redemption, and the belief that life happens for him, not to him. In 2006, a rollover accident left Matt paralyzed from the waist down with a T-12 total spinal cord injury. Through relentless determination and daily therapy over a span of 15 years, he defied the odds and learned to walk again.

Even beyond the physical challenges that the accident had imposed, Matt had other mountains to climb in his recovery. He struggled with an opiate addiction, which he overcame—only to face another life-altering moment in 2021 when a head-on collision with a drunk driver resulted in another spinal injury and broken bones that erased all the physical progress he had made since the previous accident. Yet, Matt views paralysis as a gift, shaping him into the man he was meant to be. As the founder of St. George Adaptive Sports, he empowers individuals with disabilities through recreation. A sought-after speaker, Matt inspires others to "DIG IN, DIG DEEP, and GET IT DONE."

To learn more about Matt, visit his website at https://blanchardinspires.com/.

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From as early as 6 years old, Paula Franetti had the dream to be in the Olympics to experience the thrill of being her very best. This far-reaching Olympic experience fostered an active childhood playing a variety of neighbor pick-up sports until women’s basketball became available in high school 10th grade. Paula’s life revolved around the pursuit of excelling at basketball both in high school and college. When competitive basketball ended after college, Paula sought to excel at running, competing regularly in road races including marathons and half-marathons.

Paula first learned of the National Senior Games when Pittsburgh hosted the 2006 Games. Not old enough to compete, she volunteered, and her pursuit of being an Olympic basketball player was re-ignited. Five National Games and two Huntsman World Senior Games later, Paula’s pursuit of being her very best came to a screeching halt when a speeding driver nearly killed her. Facing a projected 2-year recovery, Paula met her greatest challenge of finding a way to become her very best again by relying on her past to start over.

To learn more about her story, you can visit https://reboundplanner.com/ or purchase her book on Amazon.com entitled "Driving Force: How One Woman Rebounded from Life-Altering Injuries and You Can Too."

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Sixty-six-year-old Yolanda Holder, also known as the “Walking Diva,” is a professional ultra-marathon walker and a two-time Guinness World Record holder for the “Most Marathons Completed in a Calendar Year.” She set her first record in 2010 by completing 106 marathons and ultras, then surpassed it in 2012 with 120. In 2019, she became the oldest person to achieve US Race Walk Centurion status (#94) by race-walking 100 miles in under 24 hours (23:52:17). A decorated athlete, Yolanda also holds the title of World Champion Pedestrian for finishing the Sri Chinmoy Self-Transcendence 3100 Mile Race in 51 days, 17 hours, and 13 seconds. Beyond her athletic achievements, Yolanda is a wife, mother, grandmother, inspirational speaker, author, and an advocate for Type 2 Diabetes awareness, promoting health through walking and positivity.

To learn more about Yolanda, you can check out her book, "My Journey to Guinness: "Walking Diva" Walking My Way into the Guinness Book of World Records."

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Former Army Ranger and member of the Special Forces, Dr. Alec Eror, is a cardiothoracic surgeon in St. George, Utah who is affiliated with multiple hospitals in Utah, including Intermountain Health St George Regional Hospital and Intermountain Health Utah Valley Hospital. He received his medical degree from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine and has more than 30 years of experience in the medical field, including expertise in heart valve surgery and heart bypass surgery. Dr. Eror currently serves as the medical director of cardiac rehab in the St. George Regional Hospital.

As an ambassador for Red Rock Bicycle Company, Dr. Eror loves cycling and averages 10,000 miles a year. He especially enjoys gravel biking, and he has done gravel biking races throughout the world, often planning vacations around these races. He has competed in cycling at the Huntsman World Senior Games for 5 years.

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Mort Friedman, 88, is a decorated senior athlete with an impressive career in bowling and softball. Over more than 30 years, he has earned 38 medals at the Michigan Senior Olympics, National Senior Games, and Huntsman World Senior Games. In 2023, he won three gold medals in bowling, setting a new state record in doubles. Despite his age, he competes at a high level, recently rolling a 227 game in league play. Mort’s 549 total in singles at the Huntsman Games would have earned silver in the 55-59 age group—three decades younger than him.

A former Professional Bowlers Association Senior Tour competitor, Mort bowled Michigan’s first sanctioned 300 game by a Jewish bowler in 1957. He also helped the University of Michigan win the Big Ten Tournament in 1959. A longtime construction industry leader, Mort retired last year after 52 years as president of Mort Friedman Construction. With replaced knees and a healthy lifestyle, he continues to defy age, inspiring athletes of all generations.

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Stan Swallow’s first bike race was in 1999 when 59 years old. He has been a dedicated cyclist since then.  He established a cycling group named the Utah Velo Club in 2003 at the request of a bike shop in American Fork, Utah.  He rides about 10,000 miles a year alone and with the club.  Rides range from 35 to 100 miles and include riders of all abilities, from teens to seniors.  Stan will chat with the riders and make them feel like they are the only ones riding with him.  This former Best Overall Racer in the Nation for his age division continues to race annually in national championships and in the Huntsman World Senior Games.  On days that Stan doesn’t ride, he organizes club events for winter hikes or snowshoe trips.

Originally from Fillmore, Utah, Stan ran track and wrestled in high school, earned an engineering degree from UCLA, and worked 36 years for the Federal Aviation Administration.  Married to Sharon for 60 years, this former marathon runner enjoys hiking, cold showers, and sauna sessions when not cycling.  A keto diet enthusiast, Stan relies on ketones and an energy drink during rides, skipping traditional snacks.

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Carmen's 22-year journey in the Huntsman World Senior Games spans a wide variety of sports and teams, including softball, pickleball, bowling, and track and field. She has competed on multiple teams at the Games, and she has left a lasting impact on each one. Her track and field achievements include shot put, sprints, javelin, and standing long jump. 

A pivotal 2010 moment, hitting a walk-off grand slam, remains one of her most cherished memories. Now at the age of 85, her lifelong athleticism and positivity inspire all those around her as a passionate advocate for the Games. We were honored to induct her in the Huntsman World Senior Games Hall of Fame in 2023. Carmen is also a vital part of the Maryland Senior Olympics, the Golden Girls, and 80+ Colorado Peaches softball, and she serves as a senior sports association commissioner.

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Starting her running journey in her early 20s, Elizabeth Bille signed up for a 5K charity race in Washington, D.C., despite never having run that far. The camaraderie and joy of the event hooked her, leading to her first half marathon with her husband, a triathlon in her mid-30s after her youngest child was born, 11 Ragnar races, numerous trail races, and one full marathon in her early 40s. Though she loathed running as a child, it’s now a source of physical and mental strength, inspired by her 81-year-old father, a competitive runner. She also credits “Moms Run This Town” as an instrumental part of the joy she finds in running.

A former theater major, she left performing for a more practical career path as an attorney. Just recently, she rediscovered her love for dance and singing, conquering fears that had been non-existent in her younger years. A recent pinnacle triumph was performing in front of an audience. She now delights in embracing discomfort and being an example about trying challenging things to her three children.

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Dr. Glynis Worthington redefined the concept of lifelong learning by earning a Doctor of Education from the University of Northern Iowa. Her groundbreaking dissertation explored the experience of adults aged 50 and older playing pickleball doubles, uncovering the sport's remarkable capacity to evoke flow—a state of complete immersion and enjoyment. Driven by curiosity, Dr. Worthington spent over 200 hours observing players, revealing that pickleball enthusiasts experience unprecedented levels of flow compared to previous studies.  

Inspired by the social and psychological dimensions of the game, she aspires to use her research to promote health and well-being among older adults. Dr. Worthington’s dedication to this field stems from a deeply personal place, as she honors her late father by advocating for active, engaging lifestyles in retirement. Now a self-proclaimed pickleball scientist and health advocate, Dr. Worthington shares her insights through presentations and discussions, empowering others to discover the transformative benefits of this dynamic sport.

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Tom Simek, a 72-year-old Navy Submarine veteran, homebuilder, husband, father of 3 and grandfather of 2 inspires with his journey of resilience and determination. Like many of us, he has had his ups and downs with nutrition and fitness, but Tom embraced fitness seriously at 59 and hasn’t looked back. From track and field events to competing on American Ninja Warrior as its oldest competitor on season 16, Tom's pursuits are fueled by his love of challenges. He was a 2024 Senior Planet Sponsored Athlete by AARP, and he excels in senior track and field in the 50m, 100m, 200m, and long jump, with national rankings in his age group. 

Tom’s granddaughter, a track star herself, remains his greatest inspiration, motivating him to stay active and lead by example. He values consistency, clean eating, and daily training, combining bodyweight exercises, weightlifting, yoga, and sprints at high altitudes.