80-year-old Gloria Tolaro prepares to enter the pool at the aquatic center in Centralia Feb. 10.
Fun in the Water
Brandon Swanson / bswanson@chronline.com
WA State Senior Olympian
Rochester 80-Year-Old Sets Regional Senior Olympian Records By Victoria Stewart
not a lot of junk, and I never go to fast food,” Tolaro said. “My husband’s Italian, so we eat lots For The Chronicle of pasta, not too much fat, and lots of fruits and Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow nor heat vegetables.” keeps Gloria Tolaro from her appointed rounds. Tolaro always enjoyed outdoor sports, including Rounds of swimming, that is, at the aquatic center running, but wasn’t much of a swimmer during at Thorbecke’s Fitlife Center in Centralia, where most of her adult life. the 80-year-old from Rochester trains three days a “I was a kid swimmer and a lifeguard, but I didn’t get back into swimming until I was 66 years week. old,” she explained. As a Senior “I was working at Olympian, Tolaro the YMCA and they takes her swimming were just getting practice seriously ... people interested in and enjoyably. the Senior Games And on Feb. 5, and the Olympics. all that swimming By Victoria Stewart I went to my first paid off as Tolaro For The Chronicle national games in broke three The Washington State Senior Games (WSSG) 1999.” Pacific Northwest includes a wide variety of events for all activity levels While Tolaro Association and interests — from powerlifting to cowboy action said she only did records in the 80shooting. “okay” at the to 84-year-old Events include: first games, she age group of the Archery, bowling, dance, pool/8-ball, racquetball, was immediately Washington State shuffleboard, swimming, track and field, badminton, hooked. With Senior Olympics. cowboy action shooting, golf, powerlifting, road run games held every Despite her (5K and 10K), soccer, table tennis, volleyball, basketball, year somewhere embarrassment at cycling, pickleball, race walking, rowing, softball and around the country, the media attention, tennis. Tolaro has been Tolaro agreed to For more information check out the Washington State attending ever an interview “If,” Senior Games (WSSG) at: www.pugetsoundgames. since. She has been she stressed, “it com to games in Florida, encourages other Gloria Tolaro is the commissioner for the swimming Louisiana, Virginia, older people to division of the WSSG. For more information on the P e n n s y l v a n i a , swim and exercise.” swimming senior Olympic division, contact her at: Kentucky and San Exercise and 19gloria@sprintmail.com. Francisco, among maintaining a her travels. healthy lifestyle are These national important to this games are in addition to yearly local Senior retired occupational therapist, who spent her career Olympics, and numerous other regional swim working with improving the functional capacity of meets. people with disabilities. Her background training prepared her for entering and maintaining her Married to husband Jay for 56 years, Tolaro own senior years. This includes maintaining a laughs when asked if any of her family also swims. With two grown children in Arizona and Texas, healthy diet as well.
Washington State Senior Games
“I generally eat low fat and try to eat healthy,
Continued on SWW Seniors Pg 2
Gloria Tolaro Stats Residence: Rochester Age: 80 Height: 5 foot 10 inches Weight: 160 Homeland: Northern Illinois Married: For 56 years to husband Jay Career: Retired occupational therapist Children: Two Grandchildren: Three Swim practice: Three days a week Hobbies: Gardening and quilting
SWW Seniors • February 2011
Seniors Southwest Washington