DES MOINES, Iowa — Kari Torkelson was watching the 2024 Paris Olympics when inspiration struck.
“I’ve always been inspired by athletes performing at the highest level,” Torkelson said. “I was like, is there something I could do? Where is there something I could compete in?”
A Google search revealed the National Senior Games, held in Des Moines, Iowa, from July 24-Aug. 4.
The National Senior Games are a biennial, Olympic-style event featuring competitors ages 50 and up, welcoming over 11,000 participants. There are more than 25 sports available, including softball, basketball, powerlifting, swimming and triathlon.
Luckily, this year’s national games featured the event Torkelson had in mind: a free-throw contest.
Basketball has been a part of Torkelson’s life since childhood. When the E