Jul 20, 2026
Retired Army Maj. Nelson González, 68, represented the Orlando VA Adaptive Sports Program at the 2026 National Veterans Golden Age Games (NVGAG) between June 27 and July 2 in Tampa, Florida.
Held at the University of South Florida Research Park Fields, González won the Gold Medal in the Archery Recurve Freestyle with sights category for the 65–69 age division.
“Despite the intense heat and humidity, every arrow made the effort worthwhile,” said González, a life member of VFW Post 5277 in Clermont, Florida. “Since this year archery is one of the newly added medal sport competitions at the Games, it gave me the opportunity to return to a sport I have loved for decades.”
For González, this year marked his fifth consecutive appearance at the Games, which bring veterans aged 50 and older from across the country for camaraderie, competition and the opportunity to challenge themselves through adaptive sports.
A former gold medalist in pickleball, featured in VFW magazine’s January 2023 issue (https://www.qgdigitalpublishing.com/publication/?i=769623&p=50&view=issueViewer), González again competed in the sport, though finished outside the medal rounds.
“This year at the Games, pickleball proved to be a demanding event,” González. “The Men’s Doubles 4.0 bracket was especially competitive, with a high caliber of play throughout.”For his Gold Medal performance in archery, González trained with his vintage 1975 Hoyt Pro Medalist Takedown Olympic-style recurve bow and admitted that rebuilding a consistent training routine became a rewarding journey in itself.
“Archery is more than a sport,” González said. “For those of us with military or law enforcement backgrounds, the discipline of target practice can feel familiar. Archery draws on that same concentration, but in a quieter, calmer way.”
Beyond the competition, González expressed how the NVGAG continues to play a meaningful role in his life, how it provides structure, camaraderie and a renewed sense of purpose, helping him manage anxiety, frustration and PTSD.
“For me, those silent moments of drawing, aiming, and releasing an arrow can create a deep sense of inner peace,” González said. “That blend of sport, discipline, and art is why archery can play such an important role in improving quality of life.”