Cancer is life-changing, but for Bradford native and Tennessee resident Joe Giordano it hasn’t kept him from putting his heart into new challenges.

Bradford native Joe Giordano, who lives in Tennessee, gets ready to throw the shot put during the Senior Olympics held this past weekend in Franklin, Tenn. (Photo submitted)

Giordano, who currently lives in Sieverville, Tenn., was among a group of adults aged 50 and over who competed in the Senior Olympics in Franklin, Tenn. over the weekend. The competition pits people from the state – and some from other places – against each other in over 20 categories of competition.

Giordano competed in throwing events, some of which he had never tried before. Those included the shot put and discus and also the softball throw. He ran in the 50 and 100 meters also.

Giordano is a Bradford High graduate (1971) and Navy veteran who served in Vietnam. He also is on a regular regimen of steroids and chemotherapy pills to fight his Stage 4 cancer.

Despite that regimen and getting fatigued easily, Giordano trained from late fall until the weekend at the local high school track, running the bleachers, doing laps around the track and practicing sprints. He also lifted weights in the three months leading up to the competition.

Joe Giordano, who has Stage 4 cancer, poses with a fellow Senior Olympics participant and medal winner who requested the photo because he was an inspiration to her. (Photo submitted)

While he didn’t finish well in the running events, he did finish fourth in discus and took home a third-place medal in shot put.

“I entered some races. I always thought for my age I was pretty quick, I found out quickly that there are elite athletes in the running events. There were some state records set this weekend, and the event had some world champions that go all over the country and world that run,” Giordano said. “I was right next to one and he blew me away. The guy next to me – he ran the 50 and 100 meters with me. He is highly decorated and an ex world champ who travels the world to run and compete. He won the high jump too.”

Now that he has experienced shot put and discus, he plans to train more and try those events again in his next competition, which is closer to home. The East Tennessee Senior Olympics will be held in Gatlinburg Oct 2-4 (weather depending). Giordano noted he will be adding javelin to his list of events, and he will be running again as well.

“I’m really anxious to get back at it and work out and I want to get some equipment and practice and see what I do in October,” he stated. “I’m hoping to bring some medals home but if I don’t I am just thankful and blessed to be able to do this.”

Not only does Giordano enjoy getting out there to meet people at the events, but he shares his adventures on his social media. He said he hasn’t been home long and has already heard from people who are older and inspired to look into similar challenges themselves thanks to his experience.

He enjoys being an inspiration for those who have received life-changing medical news as well.

“I’m hoping to inspire people that have Cancer or other diseases/medical problems that they don’t have to give up – young or old!” Giordano said.