Seventy-eight-year-old Zena Campbell doesn't act her age.
She also takes competing very seriously.
Campbell has registered for all the in the BC Seniors Games' track and field events, for a total of 13 different sports.
"I'm registered for long jump, triple jump, discus and shot-put plus all the running. I don't really run fast, I just take my pace," said Campbell.
She registered for the same number of events last year, but had to miss a few due to scheduling conflicts.
Campbell said she loves being active at her age, even though it's something new to her.
"We never knew anything about sports or playing ball [growing up]," she said. "We had to make our own stuff.
"[Now] I just get into everything. A lot of the ladies my age don't get out and walk or run."
Campbell grew up in Telegraph Creek, B.C., with 16 siblings.
When her granddaughter was diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, she decided to take her under her wing, and that's where her athletic career began.
"I used to bring my granddaughter to track and field because I wanted to get her into something. She has a lot of energy," said Campbell.
She now trains every day on the track at Masich Place Stadium.
Senior athletes have access to the track and field equipment twice a week.
Despite being the winner of more than 24 medals in track and field, she still thinks of herself as someone who is learning how to properly compete.
"I've only been doing [track and field] since 2004 so to me, I'm just learning. Because no one is there to really teach you or show you how," said Campbell.
Before she retired Campbell drove taxis or limousines in the city, but she said if she had her life to do over, she'd do things differently.
"I wish I could've gotten into something like the army or something like that. But I didn't have a chance to do something like that,"said Campbell.
Her father trapped and fished whenever he could - money was tight growing up.
"We didn't have things have every thing that people have in a big city like [Prince George], but Telegraph Creek has TV and running water now. We used to have to go outside and cook on a wood stove. It was just hard times there was no electrical things in my time," she said.
But as a septuagenarian , it seems Campbell has finally found her passion. And her enthusiasm has also made an impression on BC Games organizers.
"She's amazing, having come from a family of 16 children from Telegraph Creek and then she is listed for the most events in the senior games here. She's really keen," said Dick Voneugen, a BC Seniors Games sport chairs.
Campbell said when the BC Games were held in Prince George in 2008, she wanted to make her hometown proud.
"I pushed myself hard because I wanted to be good, I really wanted to show the people here I could do well and I did. I got 12 medals that time," she said.
She hopes she will compete with as much success in this year's games.
