Walters’ first event will be the 50-yard backstroke competition at Lamar High School on Wednesday, March 28. She’s been in training since December, and hopes to bring home a medal in the female division of the 75-80 age bracket.

“I’ve been swimming since I was about 10 years old,” says Walters, “but this is the first time I’ve ever competed and I’m going to try very hard to win it. I’m really looking forward to it and am going to do my best and enjoy every minute. This is my time to have fun in life!”

Every morning at 6 a.m., you’ll find Walters in the aquatics center at Eagle’s Trace, swimming and walking in the pool to build her leg muscles. She also works out in the Eagle’s Trace fitness center to build strength in her arms and legs, and walks two days a week with the community’s walking club. The trainers who staff the fitness center, Claudia Alcocer and Shirley Woods, have helped Walters with her strength-training regimen and timed her while she practices her backstroke.

“I improved by eight seconds last week,” Walters says, adding that her best time so far has been one minute, 25 seconds.

Walters has also been getting backstroke tips from her 20-year-old twin grandsons, both of whom are graduates of West High School where they swam and played water polo. While they were home for Christmas break, the twins helped their grandmother practice proper backstroke technique. “They really helped me by showing me how to keep my knees straight and how to place my head in the right position,” Walters says.

Including Walters, 23 people who live at Eagle’s Trace have signed up to compete in this year’s Olympics events. There are 14 walkers, six golfers, two swimmers, two tennis players, one table tennis player, and one poker player from Eagle’s Trace participating in the games.