HOUSTON, June 29 -- Rushan Gao, a 90-year-old retired engineer from China, has pocketed three golds for table tennis at the U.S. National Senior Games, which is underway in the U.S. fourth largest city of Houston.
Gao, the second oldest at this year's National Senior Games, swept three table tennis gold medals for men's single, men's doubles and the mixed doubles.
Gao, once an irrigation engineer in China, is now a citizen in Houston. He is also a gold medallist in local, state, national and international table tennis championships for his age group. He has about 100 medals to his name.
"I had thought of quiting playing table tennis at the age of ninety, but now I think I will continue to compete until I cannot compete any more," said Gao.
"If I quit, there will be no Chinese competing in my age group, so I will continue to play table tennis and participate in games," said Gao, adding that he think winning gold medals is a way to bring honor to his motherland China.
Gao has played table tennis since he was a youngster. When he got to the university in Shanghai, he played with his school team. And when the 72-year-old Gao moved to Houston in 1993, he picked up table tennis again.
Besides winning honor for him, playing table tennis also benefits Gao's health. Gao said that back in 2001, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. In 2006, he had a heart problem and had a surgery. Now, he has six stents in his heart.
Playing table tennis has kept him healthy and moving through the years, said Gao.
Gao plays table tennis three to four times a week. He also plays bridge as a way to exercise his mind.
More than 10,000 athletes aged 50 and older are competing in 18 medal competitions and two demonstration sports during the 2011 U.S. Summer National Senior Games in Houston June 16-30.