Recycled Adult

Rudolph Becton, 89, Neuse River Senior Games

Rudolph Becton is a long time participant in Senior Games. He started participating 28 years ago at the age of 62. A friend who participated suggested he try it. He took her advice and was instantly hooked. His favorite event is cycling, but he also participates in shuffleboard, horseshoes, cornhole, softball and football throws, standing long jump, and race walk.  Growing up in rural North Carolina, young African American kids did not have many opportunities to participate in sports. “When I got into Senior Games that’s when I really started to do sports competitively.” Rudolph calls himself a ‘Recycled Adult’. He says, “I was sitting down thinking one day, I wanted a slogan that I had not heard or seen. I thought ‘recycled teenager’ but no, a teenager doesn’t need to be recycled, then I thought of recycled adult, that’s my slogan.”

Rudolph is three months shy of his 90th birthday, but he is still as active as ever. He believes much of that has to do with Senior Games, because, “Senior Games means the world to me because Senior Games causes me to get up and do and move during times that I would not have. Because I get up early in the morning and exercise, and ride my bike. If I wasn’t in Senior Games I wouldn’t be riding my bicycle.” He remarried 4 years ago, and he even met his wife through Senior Games. “A member of Senior Games saw me and asked if I would meet this young lady that she knew.” He was introduced to her friend Florence, and the two hit it off. They will be celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary on November 11th.

He has been to National Senior Games 6 times in his Senior Games Career. Most recently he’s been to the 2017 Nationals in Birmingham, Alabama. “It was my goal to earn a medal at Nationals” he said. He came home with two. He won second place in the 85-89 1500M Race Walk, and 3rd place in the cycling 5k.

His advice to other people old enough to participate? I would encourage them to get involved in Senior Games, just come to the games and see how the seniors get around and move, dance and all of that,” he says. “It helps the mind, it helps the body, and the soul…when they reach the age to participate in Senior Games, they should!”