Madelaine “Tiny” Cazel has been channeling her competitive spirit for more than 80 years, but it was a challenge early on.
“There were no girls to be competitive with,” says Cazel, a longtime resident of The Villages who grew up outside of Chicago. “I had to play with the boys. We played street ball. There was no softball for women.”
The 87-year-old Cazel is still active, and competes frequently in several track and field events such as the discus, javelin, shot put, and long jump. This past March, the founder of the track & field and softball teams at The Villages earned five medals at an international competition in Ocala.
“I guess it’s the competitiveness inside of me that wants to compete and perfect everything that I try to do,” Cazel says during a recent training session in Lady Lake.
Up next for Cazel, a trip to Iowa for the National Senior Games in late July, an event she’s competed at for more than two decades.
“Winning...that’s what you go to do,” Cazel says. “And you practice for that.”
Cazel trains four days a week and hopes to compete nationally for a few more years.
“As soon as I hit 90, I want to break the records, and set the records, and then quit.” says Cazel a laugh.
The National Senior Games in Des Moines, Iowa will run from July 24 through August 4.