YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Steubenville resident Sandi Rue, a former IT worker at Weirton Steel, started training for the senior Olympics at age 60. 

What You Need To Know

  • Sandi and Paul Rue have participated in nearly a dozen National Senior Games over the past couple decades 

  • Sandi has captured top prize and Paul's best finish is second 

  • The National Senior Games begin July 7 in Pittsburgh 

“I started out walking, then I was jogging, then I started running and sprinting,” she said.

Now 77 and recovered from breast cancer surgery in 2022, she’s focused on earning more medals at the National Senior Games in Pittsburgh July 7 to 18.

“When it came time for me to come back on the track and start running again, it was like, 'am I going to be able to do this?'" she said. "So, I think my competitiveness has helped me physically and mentally prepared for what I have to do."

Her husband of 35 years, Paul, who is 78, has been right by her side as a trainer. 

He also throws shot put and discus, is a coach in Steubenville and finished as high as second in previous National Senior Games competitions.   

Rue said the event is about more than winning or losing — it's like a reunion of friends. 

“You know you wind up having lunch, having dinner with them, it’s been great," he said. "If you don’t get butterflies to me, OK, I’m not ready. I have to get the butterflies in order for me to put my best forward."

While the last two years have been a marathon for Sandi Rue, she’ll once again sprint full-steam ahead on July 7 in Pittsburgh. 

And the Rues, who are parents and grandparents, hope their story inspires other seniors to start their own fitness journey. 

“And I keep encouraging my girlfriends. I encourage people that I don’t even know," Sandi said. "I’ll keep on going, and as long as they keep seeing me, maybe they’ll decide that they want to do it as well."