{"id":1487,"date":"2025-04-26T13:12:00","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T17:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hvswim.com\/lutz\/?p=1487"},"modified":"2026-08-26T13:18:13","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T17:18:13","slug":"the-inspiring-swimming-journey-of-emma-jo-ej-senior-olympian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hvswim.com\/lutz\/blog\/the-inspiring-swimming-journey-of-emma-jo-ej-senior-olympian\/","title":{"rendered":"The Inspiring Swimming Journey of Emma Jo (\u201cEJ\u201d) Senior Olympian"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you meet Emma Jo\u2014affectionately known as EJ\u2014you quickly realize you\u2019re in the presence of someone exceptional. Not only is she an incredible swim instructor loved by students of all ages, but she\u2019s also a decorated competitive swimmer who didn\u2019t even start competing until age 65.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Life Shaped by Water<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">EJ\u2019s connection to swimming began in a small hometown lake where she and her friends would spend countless summer hours diving, swimming, and playing follow the leader. Her high school didn\u2019t have a swim team, but that didn\u2019t stop her. She earned her lifeguard certification and worked two summers as a lifeguard at the very lake where she learned to swim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In college, she joined a synchronized swimming team, performing in shows even though the team didn\u2019t compete. After graduating, she taught swimming and trained lifeguards throughout her 38-year teaching career, eventually continuing her passion at the Jewish Community Center, working with children in swim lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Late Start to Competition\u2026 That Changed Everything<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many people slow down in their 60s, but not EJ. At age 65, she entered the competitive swimming world\u2014and never looked back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI was going to start swimming competitively at 60,\u201d EJ said. \u201cBut I tore my rotator cuff and had to rehab first. Once I was ready, I wanted to start at the bottom of my age group. That\u2019s how the Senior Olympics work\u2014you compete in five-year brackets. So, I waited until I turned 65.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since then, her medal count is something to marvel at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>8 medals at the Pittsburgh Senior Olympics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>6 golds and 1 silver in St. George, Utah<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>6 new state records at the Michigan Senior Olympics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Numerous relay medals, often teaming up with swimmers she met along her journey<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She will be doing 8 total events at the Senior Olympics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She specializes in sprint events like the 50 and 100 freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly, and the 100 IM (individual medley). \u201cI like the IM best\u2014it\u2019s a mix of strokes, and I don\u2019t get bored,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">EJ is also a strong diver, which gives her an edge at the start of races. In fact, at one of her very first meets in Michigan, she lost her goggles mid-dive, threw them to the side, swam blind, and still set a new state record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Teaching with Heart<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Long before EJ began collecting medals, she was shaping swimmers. From lifeguards to kids to adults, she\u2019s made a lasting impact on hundreds of lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She joined Hudson Valley Swim Lutz in late 2023, but the team had known her even longer. \u201cShe was the very first person to call us when our phones went live,\u201d a team member recalls. \u201cWe were terrified to answer\u2014it turned out to be EJ, asking about a job. What a gift.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">EJ quickly became a staple of the program. Though her true passion lies in working with adults\u2014perfecting strokes and helping people overcome fear\u2014she\u2019s adored by kids and parents alike. Her classes fill up fast, and students regularly request her by name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019ve never not taught someone to swim,\u201d EJ says confidently. \u201cThat\u2019s what I tell people who say they can\u2019t do it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A Role Model for All Ages<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now preparing for the 2025 Senior Olympics in Iowa\u2014the largest one yet with over 13,000 participants in the entire Olympic Games, EJ is still as driven and focused as ever. \u201cI\u2019m now 80, so I\u2019ll be the youngest in my bracket. Hopefully, I\u2019ll beat all those old ladies!\u201d she jokes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her message to others in their 60s, 70s, and beyond is clear: Don\u2019t stop moving. Find a sport you enjoy. Stay active.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She\u2019s seen the benefits of swimming not just physically, but mentally as well. \u201cSwimming helps with memory loss and dementia,\u201d she notes, citing research from swimmer\u2019s magazines. \u201cIt keeps you mentally sharp, flexible, and is low-impact\u2014perfect for older adults.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And the best part? \u201cYou don\u2019t need a partner. Just find a pool, learn how to swim, and you\u2019ll keep yourself in great shape.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Leaving a Legacy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">EJ\u2019s story is more than one of athletic accomplishment\u2014it\u2019s about resilience, purpose, and giving back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her advice? \u201cIf you feel like you\u2019re good at something, you should give back to your community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She continues to do exactly that, inspiring seniors to stay active, encouraging new swimmers to keep going, and building a life around the water that first gave her joy as a little girl in that small hometown lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Emma Jo proves every day that it\u2019s never too late to chase new dreams\u2014and win gold doing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Want to learn how to swim, no matter your age? Join EJ and the Hudson Valley Swim Lutz team\u2014because it\u2019s never too late to make a splash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Check back soon to hear how she did at the Senior Olympics!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>EJ is an incredible swim instructor loved by students of all ages, but she\u2019s also a decorated competitive swimmer who didn\u2019t even start competing until age 65.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":1488,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1487","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"acf":{"address":"","business_name":"","state":"","sub_locality":"","locality":"North Arlington, Tx","postal_code":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.3 - 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