From a young age Joe Williamson had to overcome a lot. He was born in 1985 and at the time was only given a week to live.
GRAND RAPIDS HOSTS USA MASTERS GAMES JUNE 24-27 AS THIRD HOST IN HISTORY; NATIONAL EVENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH MEIJER STATE GAMES OF MICHIGAN
Burt Saidel: Elite Runner
Burt Saidel grew up in the 1930’s where there were no organized athletics. Kids who played sports played in their backyards or in the streets with a handful of friends. There were no teams to tryout for or clubs to join. They made do with what they had and simply developed a love for sports all on their own with the space and equipment they had.
Tamara Steil: Swimmer, Runner, and Triathlete
Lee Ford-Faherty: Paralympic Archer
USA Masters Games Update
We’re under 70 days to the USA Masters Games June 25-27, 2021 weekend. Athletes from 29 states are set to join us in Grand Rapids, Michigan in the 18 open sports. We look forward to having athletes from more states join us for the USA Masters Games as we continue to open up registration. Read more for an update on all sports.
William Cheadle: Hurdler and Sprinter
William Cheadle, a 68-year-old Track and Field athlete, from Louisville, Kentucky is excited to compete in the USA Masters Games this summer. He has competed in the USAMG in the past and is thrilled to be able to come back and compete in hurdles and sprints as well. In June, he will be competing in the long hurdles – 300 meters, 400-meter run, and the 200-meter run in his age division.
Clint Pearman: Track and Field All-Star
“Competing at the USA Masters Games is an honor represented by years of hard work and training.” said Clint Pearman. Mr. Pearman is a 64-year-old Track and Field athlete originally from New York and later moved to Florida. His family decided to move to Florida at the age of 13 years-old to build a farm. But that did not stop him from becoming one of the most successful Track and Field all-stars in the area.
FootGolf: The Best Game Ever Invented
FootGolf is a combination of two popular American sports: soccer and golf. The USA Masters Games is honored and excited to host the FootGolf tournament at The Kicks at Bowen Lake on June 26th. The Kicks at Bowen Lake includes a 9-hole course and a tavern for all participants to enjoy. FootGolf is more closely aligned with the rules of golf, participants aim to kick the soccer ball into the hole in as few shots as possible. The sport of FootGolf is more than just kicking a ball, it is about the welcoming and the inclusive community that is created.
Wood Radio: USA Masters Games Registration Opening (interview)
Registration for the 2020 USA Masters Games is now open!
Grand Rapids, Mich., January 6, 2021 ─ Athletes 21 and older who want to compete in a multisport, Olympic-style event can now register for the third edition of the USA Masters Games (USAMG). The 2020 USA Masters Games now held June 24 – 27, 2021, is open for all athletes in the United States as well as internationally and there is no qualification necessary to compete in the USAMG. The USA Masters Games will be held at venues across the west Michigan region in conjunction with the Meijer State Games of Michigan.
Venue Spotlight: Belknap Park
Belknap Park:
The place where hundreds of people come together to play the game they love most: Pickleball. Belknap Park is one of the most well-known pickleball courts in the Midwest, where it is home to the courts of the Top 10 Nationally Ranked Women, Andrea Koop and Lea Hanse. The USA Masters Games is welcomed with open arms by the Grand Rapids Pickleball Club to host the 2021 pickleball event on their courts. The USA Masters Games will be spread out through the city of Grand Rapids this coming June operating in over 25 venues. The pickleball event will be held at Belknap Park through the Grand Rapids Pickleball Club. It is a fenced in facility with 14 outdoor paved courts, lined with tall fences and windscreens on each court.
Craig Walker: A Decorated Swimmer
“Every time I step up on the blocks, I am a winner for being able to compete.” Craig Walker. Mr. Walker is 80-year-old swimmer, from Redlands, California working to prepare for the upcoming 2021 USA Masters Games in Grand Rapids, Michigan this June! After the USA Masters Games was postponed to the summer of 2021 due to COVID-19, he did not let that stop him from staying in shape and “feeling young.”
Statement on the 2020 USA Masters Games
On behalf of the USA Masters Games, and our Grand Rapids Host Organization, the State Games of Michigan, we want to emphasize that our number one priority is the health and well-being of all participants in the USA Masters Games. With that objective in mind, and given the great uncertainty and concern surrounding the current worldwide coronavirus pandemic, it has been determined that it is in the best interests of the safety of Games athletes if we postpone the Games for one year.
USA Masters Games 2020 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Postponed to 2021
USA Masters Games Statement on COVID-19
The USA Masters Games is monitoring the ongoing concerns regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19). We are committed to the health and well-being of our constituents and will be taking the necessary steps to help prevent the spread of this virus and keep everyone safe during the USA Masters Games events.
Details released on the 2020 USA Masters Games Opening Ceremony
Grand Rapids, Mich., February 6, 2020 — The USA Masters Games will officially kick off with an Opening Ceremony on Friday, June 26. The Opening Ceremony will be held at Fifth Third Ballpark (the minor league baseball stadium for the West Michigan Whitecaps at 4500 W. River Dr. NE Comstock Park, MI 49321). Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. The ceremony will begin at 7:30 p.m. and conclude around 9 p.m. A reception to welcome USA Masters Games athletes will be held at 6 p.m.
Second wave of sports have opened for the 2020 USA Masters Games
Grand Rapids is ready to host Masters athletes from across the U.S. The second wave of sports have opened registration: Archery 3D, Archery FITA, Bowling, Judo, Shooting Sports: Air Rifle / Air Pistol, Rugby and Tennis.
