A semi-structured qualitative interview was conducted with a 51-year-old male to gain insight into the perspective of a senior athlete. The athlete, Rusty North, overcame a multitude of life’s challenges such as medical conditions (cardiovascular disease), the global pandemic, and the loss of a family member, to achieve the title of 2022 SPF/ISPF World Powerlifting Champion. The significance of the presentation is to further shed light on the growing population of senior athletes, the importance of collaboration for healthcare providers who serve this unique group, and inspire many others to rise above the mundane and achieve greatness - at any age.

Dr. Bonnie L. Rogulj is an Assistant Professor at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) and a licensed Physical Therapist. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia (UVA), graduating with honors, and earned the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree at Old Dominion University (ODU). Dr. Rogulj completed an accredited geriatric residency and is a board-certified geriatric specialist. Presently, Dr. Rogulj is a PhD Candidate at Liberty University (LU) and interested in research on aging, health/wellness, community partnership, and higher education