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Towson, MD -- For the 10th straight year, Beltsville resident Mike Yu participated in the Maryland Senior Olympics, adding gold to his already formidable collection of medals.

            Under picture perfect weather at Towson University, Mike Yu won 8 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze medals in the 85 to 89 year age group. He won gold in the 400 and 200 meter dash, triple jump, running long jump, basketball shooting for time, basketball foul, basketball floor and standing long jump. Silver medals were awarded for his efforts in shot put and the 100 meter dash. He won bronze medals in singles men table tennis and mixed doubles with his wife, Maria.

            A retired Beltsville business owner, Yu chalks up his wins to rigorous training at the Beltsville Community Center where he shoots hundreds of hoops religiously, often drawing awe from passersby for his sure shots. Under the watchful eye of his long time coach and son-in-law Richard Kaiser of Highland, Md., Yu takes a brief hiatus after the state games and then launches into committed workouts.

            Says Yu: "It's a competition of not only physical stamina but mental health. I enjoy the challenge."

            Yu underscores the support of the local community center and expresses his gratitude toward regional director Mark Allen, facility director Christy Irwin, program director Patricia Fancovik and committed staffs.

            "They are an integral part of my "team"  in this competition," points out Yu. To show his gratitude to the local center, Yu recently parted company with his prized basketball gold medal, presenting it to center leadership for the community organization's showcase.  "They have gone to "Olympic" proportions to make me feel their center is home base for my training," he says.

            Yu intends to continue to go for the gold in future competitions and encourages other older Americans to do the same for health, friendships and pure joy. Quoting the Senior Olympics' motto, he says, "To participate is to win."

            Senior sports competitions are held throughout the country at the state level each year but only the top competitors in each age group earn the distinction of representing their home state at the National Senior Games which will be held in Louisville, Kentucky next June.

            The Maryland games were sponsored by Verizon.