January '06 Nevada Senior Olympics Column

Yaroslav Novitskiy of Russia returned for the third time, along with his display of Nestor Dolls, to swim in Las Vegas. Last year he boasted of his 1500 medals earned in worldwide swimming events. This year that number has grown to 1600 including the eight gold and one silver earned here. Yaroslav presented National Senior Games with a Silver platter from The Russian Masters Organization in honor of our 25th Anniversary of the National Senior Games.

A returnee to the Nevada Senior Games for the second time was Yoshi Dyakawa. As a young man Yoshi participated in the 1952 World Olympics at Helsinki where he broke the record for the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 105.4 seconds. Yoshi, who holds the Nevada 50- and 100-yard backstroke records in the 70–74 age category, defended his records again this year. Yoshi is of Japanese descent but grew up in Hawaii and is now living in Ohio. Melinda Smith, a perennial visitor to our Games, was instrumental in getting the word to Yoshi about the Nevada Olympics.

Zoltan (Zolie) Szilard participated for the first time at the Nevada Senior Olympics. He too is a past Olympian swimmer. At age 25 Zolie participated in the 1948 World Olympics in London swimming for Hungary. He made the finals in the 100-meter freestyle and won a silver medal in the 800-meter relay. He was also number one reserve in water polo against Egypt, a game which Hungary won 16–0. Zolie was a junior champion at age 16 and was chosen by the Hungarian Secretary of Sports to attend the Olympics. Zolie, now 75 years old, competed in the freestyle and backstroke at the Nevada Senior Games, taking a gold and three silver medals. Zolie first heard about Nevada Senior Olympics this year. "Now that I know about this event I plan to get in shape for next year," he said.

Everyone at the Municipal Pool was excited to see Grace Hiddleson swim again. Surrounded by her entourage of children, grand children and great grand children, Grace swam her two events on separate days: the 50 yard backstroke on Saturday and the 50 yard freestyle on Sunday. At age 97 this is her fourth trip to Las Vegas. At age 95 she set the National record for her age in the 50-yard freestyle. Last year she was awarded the "Super Senior Athlete Award" presented to her by Nevada Senior Games and this year she was presented with the "Inspirational Award," also presented by Nevada Senior Games. "She is truly a remarkable lady," said granddaughter, Paula James.

You can contact Nevada Senior Games without obligation in several ways:
Call (702) 242-1590, send a fax to (702) 242-3919, send an e-mail to
nevadaseniorgames@earthlink.net or look us up on the internet: www.nevadaseniorolympics.com