Press
5000th Registered Athlete Makes Fitness a Life Long Commitment
Monday, June 4, 2007
By Mindy Case
"If you want to be active when you're 60 you need to be active in your 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's. You can't just retire and expect to lead an active lifestyle if you haven't made it a priority all your life,' says St. George resident, Steven Hafen.
At 63 years young Hafen says, "I was bound and determined to retire and be active. To me that would have been the ultimate insult to not be able to enjoy retirement by being active ... I guess that's why I retired at 56. That's also why I appreciate the Utah Summer Games and other venues that gives us the chance to participate."
Hafen can "talk the talk" but he can also "walk the walk." He has been playing racquetball for over 40 years and is an avid pickelball player for the last two years as well. He just competed in, and won, the Utah State singles racquetball championship (in his age division) held in Orem, Utah. And he won the silver in 2006 at the Utah Summer Games in the men's racquetball open division.
"I had to compete against all the ages and for a 60 plus guy that's not too bad!" Hafen said.
He has also competed in the Huntsman World Senior Games held in St. George and has won silver medals in racquetball. He will be competing in both sports at the Utah Summer Games this year and hopes to do well.
"Racquetball has been something I have enjoyed for years. It's a great way to stay fit and it's a very competitive, physically demanding game. Plus you can play it year round. I started playing in 1965," says Hafen.
Racquetball is a very physically demanding game but when asked of any sports related injuries Hafen says he has never been injured on the racquetball courts. He comments that at one time his right shoulder started to ache and he was told to take it easy on it but during that time he still played racquetball, with his left hand! A fellow racquetball player and friend played left handed with him during the year and a half it took to recuperate his right arm. "I wasn't any good but it was a great work out."
Hafen was a college professor for 31 years in Maryland but retired in 2000 to Saint George, Utah. He received his bachelor's degree from BYU and then went on to get two masters, one from University of Maryland and a second from Johns Hopkins.
Hafen and his wife Kathy enjoy traveling, but say they thoroughly enjoy playing sports. "It's like we're back in our childhood and mom has to call us home," he says.
They also enjoy walking, biking, weight lifting and they try to go to Zion National Park at least once a month.
They have five kids and five grandkids with one on the way, all of which live in Maryland. In fact they just got back from a three-week vacation visiting their children and grandchildren in Maryland. But just because they were on vacation they did not "vacation" from their healthy, active lifestyle. "I have racquetball buddies back there and I didn't miss a day. I have been playing three days a week for over 40 years and have rarely missed a day."
The Utah Summer Games has already started its 2007 season with Bass Fishing, which took place at the Sand Hollow Reservoir. There are still 52 sports left to go, from volleyball to swimming and of course racquetball!
Labels: Athletes
