Las Vegas Seniors Sweep Gold at New Mexico State Games

Six women from Las Vegas, New Mexico turned the New Mexico Senior Olympics into their personal showcase, dominating shuffleboard and cornhole competitions in Santa Fe. Their performance wasn't just impressive—it earned every one of them a ticket to nationals.

The New Mexico Senior Olympics State Winter Games ran February 23-26, 2026, welcoming athletes 50 and older to compete in 13 different sports. Participants could enter up to five events, testing their skills against competitors from across the Southwest.

Rose Salazar, Maria T. Gallegos, and Rose Coca each grabbed three gold medals, sweeping both shuffleboard events and cornhole doubles as a team. Gallegos added a bronze in cornhole singles to her collection, while Coca matched her with another bronze.

Jacqueline Martinez Garcia dominated her age bracket with gold medals in both shuffleboard singles and doubles. Rose Lucero claimed gold in singles and silver in doubles, while Margie Lucero earned silver in the doubles competition.

The six athletes collected 14 gold medals, three silver medals, and two bronze medals between them. That's 19 medals total from a single small town in New Mexico.

Sunny's Take

These women prove that competition and achievement don't have expiration dates. They trained, competed, and won against athletes from across their state, showing dedication that would inspire competitors of any age.

Their victories automatically qualified them for the 2027 National Senior Games in Tulsa, Oklahoma, scheduled for June 30 through July 11. There, they'll represent New Mexico against the best senior athletes from across the country.

The Senior Olympics offers more than medals. It creates community among older adults, promotes healthy aging, and challenges stereotypes about what seniors can accomplish with training and determination.

Anyone interested in joining future competitions can register by calling the Roswell, New Mexico office at (575) 623-5777. The program welcomes both in-state and out-of-state athletes who meet the age requirement.

These six women from Las Vegas are heading to Oklahoma with momentum, medals, and proof that the best competition of your life might still be ahead of you.