THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 19, 1996 TAG: 9607170113
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PATTI WALSH, CLIPPER SPORTS EDITOR
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 74 lines
YOU DON'T GET old until you stop playing.
That's 75-year-old Leo Wohl's recipe for eternal youth.
And when the 14-year resident of the College Park section of Chesapeake plays, he plays hard.
Wohl's penchant for athletics and physical fitness has helped him win numerous awards throughout the years, but it also helped him overcome the biggest battle of his life: cancer.
Wohl, formerly of New York and a 34-year veteran of the Army and National Guard, fought cancer of the bladder and prostate four years ago with an operation and a healthy workout regime. Since first learning of the illness four years ago, Wohl has gone into complete remission, enabling him to keep on competing.
Most recently, Wohl won nine gold medals in swimming, basketball and jump rope in his age division at the 18th Annual Golden Olympics held at the College of William and Mary.
``Because of the operation, I've slowed down some,'' he said. ``I don't compete so much in the field events anymore. I used to be able to win medals in the shot put and the discus, but I had to give that up.
``These young people, they'll leave you in the dust. You just do it because you love to do it.''
The ``young people'' Wohl is speaking of range in age from 55 to 94 and compete in more than 50 events. Wohl, who's participated in the last 13 Golden Olympics, averages eight medals a year.
He made 13 of 20 free throw attempts to take the gold in basketball, won seven medals in swimming and jumped rope 150 times in a minute for another medal.
Wohl, a 6-foot-1, 207-pound bill of perfect help, credits his accomplishments to the YMCA where he's been a member since 1932. A time, he recalled, when only men and boys were allowed and bathing suits were not accepted attire.
``I give the YMCA all the credit for keeping me in shape,'' he said. ``They do a lot of good things for a lot of people.''
Wohl frequents the Greenbrier North and Virginia Beach YMCAs and is thankful for how much they have to offer seniors.
Three times a week one might catch a glimpse of Wohl working on his shooting skills in the gym. He must make 50 before he'll go on to the pool. A former Army boxer, Wohl also finds that jumping rope comes natural.
That, he said, is one of his favorite pastimes. He used to be able to do 200 jumps in a minute before his operation and when he was a youngster of 71.
When he's not working out, Wohl volunteers at the Beth Shalom Home of Eastern Virginia. There, he teams with piano player Lea Wohl, no relation, and sings a variety of songs to the seniors in nursing homes. He dons different hats for the occasion - a cowboy hat, for example, if he sings ``She'll Be Coming `Round the Mountain.'' He is also a member of the Indian River Seniors Group and twice has been named volunteer of the year.
``I'll do anything for a laugh,'' he said. ``I can't complain. I love people.''
That's the main reason he participates in the Golden Olympics.
``I love sports and meeting people and socializing. It's very important. (The Golden Olympics) are a poor man's vacation.''
For the weekend event, Wohl and other participants paid $200 for food and lodging at the college. He's met many other active seniors at the competitions, but wishes more Chesapeake residents would join the fun.
``We used to have maybe 30 to 40 people, but this year we had only about 10,'' he said. ``I guess we're losing 'em. But Chesapeake is very good to senior citizens. You don't have to participate, just come along and see what's going on. I think it's great.
``It keeps me young.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Leo Wohl rests with his wife, Gertrude, after a swimming event in
the 18th Annual Golden Olympics held at the College of William and
Mary. by CNB