BLOOMINGTON - The older athletes get, the more they love moving up an age group where the competition is a little easier.

That's one reason Gladys Williamson is looking forward to swimming in the National Senior Olympics Aug. 1-4 at Stanford University.

"Since I'm the youngest in the age group, maybe I have a chance to bring something (like a medal) home," said the 90-year-young Bloomington resident, who has made it her mission to tout the virtues of the Senior Olympics.

Williamson calls the Senior Olympics, which offers competition in 18 activities ranging from track to bridge, both fun and inspiring. She remembers one swimmer who arrived at a meet in a wheelchair.

"As soon as she got in the water, she was like a fish," Williamson said. "It's inspiring to meet these people. I hope to inspire my kids."

Williamson, a native of Hoopeston, raised four kids at a home in Kappa that had a pool with 20-yard lanes and a diving platform.

Her kids went on to win trophies while she got roped into timing. Now her kids get asked to time at her meets.

Williamson, a 1941 Illinois State Normal University graduate, didn't start competing until age 67.

"I've been doing it ever since," said the retired secretary, who previously qualified for the National Senior Olympics in 2003 (at Virginia), 2005 (at Pennsylvania) and 2007 (at Kentucky).

Williamson set state records in the 2008 Illinois Senior Olympics in the age 90-94 100-yard freestyle (2:58.83), 200 freestyle (6:47.40) and 500 freestyle (17:45.47). She also won the 50 freestyle (1:14.73).

"It's tougher at the younger ages," said Williamson, who swims a little over a half mile (40 lengths to be exact) a couple times each week in the Four Seasons Association pool.

"I was talking to one of the ladies swimming here. She thought she might go down (to the Sept. 17-22 & 27-28 Illinois Senior Olympics in Springfield), but she wasn't sure she was good enough. Dang it, I wasn't good enough either."

Williamson got good by logging more than 700 miles of swimming since 1988. Staying motivated has never been an issue.

"I get up and I don't even tell myself I'm going," she said. "I just get dressed and I'm gone. If I stop and think about it, then it's easier to stay home. So I just keep going."

Even a broken wrist couldn't stop Williamson at last year's Illinois Senior Olympics. Her doctor simply applied a special cast she could swim with.

"They have nationals every other year so you have to qualify the year before," she said. "I had to qualify."

When she isn't swimming, Williamson, who had an aunt live to 100, plays the piano at local nursing homes. Her own health is good, but not immune to the march of time.

"I have a pacemaker," she said. "I didn't think I needed it, but they thought I did."

Now Williamson feels a need to spread the word about the Illinois Senior Olympics (phone 217-753-0700 or visit www.ilsenoly.org). Don't expect her to stop of her own accord.

"When you stop," she warned, "you stop."