Stu Goldstein of Dunbarton said he didn’t enter the Granite State Senior Games expecting to win anything. He was simply looking to regain the competitive feeling he experienced while exhibiting his athletic prowess in gymnastics for 35 years.

“Last year I saw it in the paper, and I was 49, and I said, ‘Hey, next year, when I turn 50, I’m doing it,’” said Goldstein, who this year participated in long jump, high jump, the 5K road race, the 50- and 100-meter dash, badminton and racquetball. “I’m not here to win. I just want to have a great time and do my best.”

Like Goldstein, Bow’s Jack Finan, who competes against fellow 75- to 79-year-olds, entered sprinting events not expecting victory. In his case, he was just trying to pass time before the race walking event.

“It’s just to stay loose. It gets petty boring if you’re just hanging around, not doing anything,” said Finan.

He recently broke the 5,000- meter record for his age group by three minutes.

“That,” added Finan, “was a good day.”

But there are many reasons why local seniors enter the GSSG.

For Candia 79-year-old Justin R. Rinfret and his son, 52-year-old Justin S. Rinfret of Scarborough, Maine, it’s a family affair. “It’s unbelievable, it’s crazy, to be here myself, and to see (my son) doing as well as he does,” said the elder Rinfret, who noted he’s generally No. 1 among in-state competitors in his age group. He added that many, like his son, come from out of state to participate.

“I’ve been to Vermont and Maine and they’re not half as good. This New Hampshire event is really run well.” Jim Clark of Newbury, N.Y., can personally attest. He described the New York senior games as pathetic compared to the Granite State’s offering, mostly because New York’s competition doesn’t allow outsiders.

But the 21st annual GSSG, which hosted 750 athletes ages 50 and older, including 190 track and field competitors at Manchester’s Livingston Park on Sunday, Aug. 17, were whatever those participating needed them to be.

For 70-year-old Ann Flynn of Westport, Conn., it’s a birthday present to herself in commemoration of her 1956 Olympics appearance in high jump and a 1959 Gold medal at the Pan American Games.

There are many out-of-staters who traveled from as far as Florida, Tennessee and even California to compete, yet the majority of participants still sport the words “Live free or die” on their license plates.

Bedford 71-year-old George Potter, a track and field standout in high school, said he still had the desire to compete but lacked the outlet … until, of course, he discovered the Senior Games three years ago.

“I decided to try and get my rusty body together, but the first year I didn’t have a javelin so I threw tennis balls and baseballs over at McKelvie (Intermediate School) field to practice, and as it turned out, I didn’t do so bad … I got a couple medals,” said Potter. “It’s something year round that gives me the discipline to stay in shape.”

In fact, he enjoyed the games so much he is now the GSSG treasurer. This year, in addition to the three throwing events – shot put, discus and javelin – Potter participated in badminton and swimming. He garnered two silver medals in swimming.

“I watch the Olympics and I see what Michael Phelps is doing, and I see how excited he gets, and that’s how we get,” said Potter. “That may be the Olympics of the world for younger folks, but this is as good as it gets for us.” Well, almost.

Potter said he plans to participate in the 2009 Summer National Senior Games in Palo Alto, Calif. While the 2008 Beijing Olympics have less than 12,000 athletes, Potter said more than 14,000 are expected to attend the event at Stanford University.

Others have a far more practical reason to compete.

Ed Brooks weighed 200 pounds and was experiencing a noticeable decline in health when he first decided to compete in the Granite State Senior Games. Forty pounds and 40 medals later, the Salem resident said the decision has helped keep him alive and vibrant. “I did it for health and getting in shape, and I would encourage anybody to do it,” he said. “Whether you win or lose, the important thing is being healthy.”