WEDNESDAY, August 26, 2026|
Photo – Wyoming Senior Olympics Executive Director DeShann Schinkel – Courtesy National Senior Games Association
The City of Rawlins will host Senior Olympics qualifying games next month.
On September 26th and 27th, Wyoming Senior Olympics will come to Rawlins. The Senior Olympics, also called the National Senior Games, are a biennial competition featuring over 25 sports. Wyoming Senior Olympics Executive Director DeShann Schinkel said Rawlins will host six events for athletes 50 and older throughout the weekend. Participants may qualify for the 2027 National Senior Games in Oklahoma.
Executive Director Schinkel said the games aren’t only for senior citizens. She said every event will include a separate 35‑and‑over category in addition to the 50‑plus division, adding that athletes don’t have to wait until they’re older to participate in the Senior Games.
The 35‑to‑49 division does not qualify athletes for the National Senior Games competition.
Wyoming Senior Olympics has held golf tournaments at the Rawlins Rochelle Ranch Golf Course in the past, but this is the first time other events have been offered in the city. As a Rawlins native, Executive Director Schinkel said she is excited to bring the games to her hometown.
Schinkel said Rawlins’ place on Interstate 80 makes it an ideal location to host the Wyoming Senior Olympics qualifiers. She added that, through the event, she hopes to showcase the qualities that make Rawlins a great place to live.
Over 1,000 athletes attended the Cheyenne National Senior Games qualifier. As the first Wyoming Senior Olympics qualifying games in Rawlins, Schinkel said she isn’t expecting quite as large a turnout. However, she said she hopes next month’s event will boost the city’s profile for future games.
Participants in next month’s games will have a chance to qualify for the 2027 National Senior Games in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The event is held every two years, with Birmingham, Alabama hosting the 2029 games. Schinkel said she is working to bring the 2031 tournament to Wyoming for the first time.
Schinkel said next month’s Wyoming Senior Olympics qualifier will help gauge the popularity of the games, paving the way for Rawlins to host competitions on a regular basis. If the response is strong, she said future events may be added, including shuffleboard.
Wyoming Senior Olympics Executive Director DeShann Shinkel explained how to register for the Rawlins qualifiers.
The Wyoming Senior Olympics qualifying games will take place on Saturday, September 26th, and Sunday, the 27th in Rawlins. Registration is $50 per sport, with a six‑person volleyball team costing $300.
