An iron will

When Rueben Naravec wants to compete in sports, there's not much that can stop him.

Not diabetes. Not a mild heart attack. Not getting older. Not seeing his vision diminish. Not amputated left toes. Not even an amputated right leg from the knee down.

Navarec, a 64-year-old man from Galt, just keeps on plugging away.

His whole life, Navarec, who was born in Stockton, has been an athlete. From his first taste of sports as a basketball player in junior high school, to boxing in the army, to being a seven-handicap golfer, to traveling across the country to play soccer, Navarec has been a competitor.

So when he was diagnosed with diabetes several years ago — which was followed by eye surgery and two amputation procedures including his right leg in January, Navarec couldn't change who he was, only how he did the things he loved most.

"I knew that I was going to have this condition for the rest of my life and I was going to make the best of it," said Navarec, a single father who raised five kids and now has seven grandchildren.

During his three-month, post-surgery stay at the Veterans Affairs medical facility in Martinez, where he was rehabbing and adjusting to life without his right calf and foot, he saw a poster advertising the National Veterans Golden Age Games in Indianapolis in August. The Games are held annually, giving veterans 55 years of age or older a chance to participate in friendly competition in 14 sports. Over 900 vets competed in the event.

The Games gave Navarec motivation to grind though his painful physical therapy, knowing that if he could compete again, it would all be worth it.

"In physical therapy I really worked hard to build my upper body," Navarec said. "I did more than I should have. When they weren't looking I added more weight. I knew it would take hard work and that experience came from soccer — or anything that you do. If you are going to excel, you have to put the time in."

With help from his doctors, nurses and physical therapists, as well as a prosthetic leg, Navarec accomplished his goal. He went to Indianapolis and competed in golf, billiards, bowling and table tennis. Not only did he compete, he nearly medaled in billiards.

Next year, Navarec plans on attending the Games again in Alabama.

"I am going to make everyone I can until I can't do it anymore. Then that thing better have some sort of crochet competition," he said with a laugh. "I like to compete."

He's thinking about working more on his upper body strength and trying shot put and discus next year in addition to continuing to play golf. He is even trying to put together a soccer team to try and play a match at the Games. He doesn't want wheelchair soccer either, he wants to keep playing like he always has.

Navarec is hoping his determination to keep playing sports will inspire others in similar situations to do the same.

"I want to help other people realize that the debilitation is here," he said pointing to his head. "I don't consider myself handicapped, just inconvenienced. I only have one less leg to do things, but I can still do it."

Navarec, who has worked hard to learn to walk without a limp, says most people can't tell he uses a prosthetic leg. He still goes about his life, watching his grandkids play soccer or helping officiate and coach when needed.

Last weekend, Naravec, who served in the Army in the 1960s, participated in another veterans event — a wheelchair softball game in Sacramento.

"Sports is such great therapy," he said. "You are so busy competing, you don't have time to sit around and feel sorry for yourself."

The game has aired on Comcast (channel 17) and will be rebroadcast Friday at 8 p.m. and again on Saturday at noon.

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An iron will

Galt athlete Rueben Naravec's competitive nature overcomes handicaps

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