For Starr Falling, sports have always been a part of life in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma—a town she’s proudly called home for nearly her entire life. From the dusty softball field of her youth to the unexpected world of track and field, Starr’s journey is one of reinvention, resilience, and, above all, surprise.
Her love of athletics began with softball, a sport she began playing at the age of 8 and played in nearly every form over the years. Her talent and dedication led her to Northeastern State University, where she played at the collegiate level before walking on at Texas Tech. But despite the opportunity, Texas felt too far from home, and Starr returned to Oklahoma. She spent many years working in various capacities at Broken Arrow Public Schools. Years later, her athletic journey would take a remarkable turn.
Her son played football in high school, but when he was in college the track coach introduced him to throwing, saying that linebackers made great throwers.
“That was the first time I ever saw the hammer,” Starr said.
Eventually, she decided to give it a try herself shortly after having two reconstructive surgeries. She half expected her doctor to shut down the idea. But instead, he encouraged her.
Her doctor said it’s actually good therapy because it elongates the spine.
“I thought he was going to say I couldn’t do it, but he said, as long as you can do it, just keep doing it,” she said.
To her delight, the hammer throw became not only a fun new challenge, but a powerful tool for her physical health and overall well-being. What began as an experiment quickly turned into something much more.
With her son acting as her coach in the sport, Starr competed in the hammer throw at the Oklahoma Senior Games and soon found herself qualifying for the National Senior Games, competing on a national stage in both Florida and Pittsburgh.
Despite being relatively new to the sport, Starr didn’t just show up—she showed out. She earned a spot on the podium at nationals, proving that it’s never too late to chase greatness.
Today, Starr is more than an athlete—she’s an advocate for the Oklahoma Senior Games, sharing her story to inspire others to try something new, no matter their age or experience level.
“You don’t have to be competitive in the beginning,” Starr said. “You can just come move and have fun and work your way up to being competitive.”
And with the 2027 National Senior Games set to take place right in her backyard in Tulsa, she’s more fired up than ever.
“I talk to people every day,” she said. “I say, ‘hey, don’t you want to get with people our own age and hang out, have a good time?’ I’ve got people really thinking about it.”
Now that she’s found her stride in the hammer throw, there’s no turning back.
“Once you play, you just get passionate,” she said.
