FULLERTON, Calif. — With her eyes on first place, 79-year-old Judy Sabol put her putting skills to the test.

"Competing is part of my nature," she said. "I think it’s part of everyone’s nature."

Donning her red, white and blue outfit, Sabol was in full Olympic spirit as she and other seniors at the Morningside of Fullerton retirement community took an active approach by taking practice seriously and cheering on their own in this year’s Senior Summer Olympics.

“Usually in the morning 8:00, 9:00 and in the evening when it cools off, 6 or 7:00 at night, everybody is out here playing, and we enjoy it,” Sabol said.

Sabol is an avid putter, and the game is helping to keep her mind sharp. She might have a reason for that. One study found fewer falls and improved cognitive abilities in seniors who incorporated moderate exercise into their routines. Taking an active approach is a lot more like fun for Sabol, who would rather be in the torch run than sitting at home.

“We could be at home watching television with the Olympics on TV and not to talk to anybody," she said. "But here, we have 400 and some odd residents, and everybody is out, and everybody is supportive, and we all have a wonderful time.”

Sabol perhaps had an even better time after taking home a prized medal.

“We came in second, and that was wonderful," she said. "We are very, very happy and proud of ourselves and what we did.”