They’re strong, fast, energetic — and over age 50. The rules of the game have changed: sports competitions aren’t exclusive to young people. If you want to compete, all you need is grit and determination. Timothy Jenkins is a Kentucky Senior Games competitor who proves that you can break records at any age.
By Tiffany White
Getting Back on Track
Timothy Jenkins
In 2010, Timothy Jenkins found salvation on a running track after being homeless for 40 years. “I wanted to walk away from the drugs and alcohol so I started exercising [at the Southwest YMCA and the Louisville Athletic Club] and became involved in homeless ministries. I asked God what I was training for and he said, ‘You need to run.’” Timothy spent a year training for the competition that would turn his life around: he lost 40 pounds, signed up for the Kentucky Senior Games in 2018, and became a record-breaking sprinter. He broke the Kentucky state record in the 50-meter race and finished in second place in the 100-meter race, which earned him two gold medals.
Timothy’s achievements qualified him for the National Senior Games this year, which will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 14-25. It’s a huge accomplishment considering that it was the first time he competed in any sport, but for Timothy, competing is about more than winning medals.
He is using his experience as a platform for bringing attention to the problem of homelessness in our country. “God wanted me to do this as a homeless person and give other homeless people hope that they could come back and do something special in their lives,” he says.
Read our other articles on the New Age of Fitness, covering seniors who are showing us fitness is just a mindset!
Congratulations Timothy on the race!!
You’ve given me new motivation. I’m a Healing Place graduate 2008.