Kennedy keeps rolling in the fitness room and on the ski slopes

Peter Kennedy eyed the elliptical machine, stepped on, put his hands and feet firmly into place and went for it.

At age 98, the Covenant Living at the Shores on Mercer Island resident and former standout Olympic ice skater engages in 10-minute workouts every day except Sundays, when he takes a rest.

“I’m one of those people that once I get in a routine, then it becomes automatic. And I look forward to it,” said the longtime Island resident. “Otherwise, I’m a lazy athlete.”

One of Kennedy’s training partners is Shores resident Richard Link, 75, who has a booming, beautiful voice, Kennedy said with a smile.

On a recent afternoon at the Shores, Link glanced over at Kennedy and said they encourage each other during workouts.

“Peter’s fun to be with. He’s such a positive spirit. He’s always ready to go,” Link added.

Shores wellness coordinator Mihaela Dimitriu said she and the residents admire Kennedy for his work ethic, along with his inspiration and motivation in getting them to follow his lead.

“He still has the discipline and (is able) to stick to a program,” she said, adding with a chuckle that his workout regimen “really puts us to shame.”

Kennedy absorbs the golden comments and lobs some praise back at Dimitriu: “I have the best guiding in the world sitting right there. Of all the trainers I’ve been around, she sparkles.”

Turning back the clock to the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo, Norway, Kennedy and his sister Karol — famously known as “The Kennedy Kids” — notched a silver medal in pairs figure skating.

While looking at an Olympics yearbook photo of the duo, which dominated the U.S. championships, Kennedy said it’s hard to believe he’s the same person in the picture. Thinking back to those glory days on the ice, he noted: “Well, we enjoyed the moment.”

However, Kennedy remembers that he and Karol were disappointed at not winning gold and said that a good competitor doesn’t like to lose.

“We thought we’d won. And there were three European judges, one American judge. We didn’t have a chance,” he said while shaking his head.

Fast forward to today’s competitions, and Kennedy will be checking out the figure skating action on television from the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy.

But first, Kennedy has his sights set on a 10-day ski trip to Sun Valley, Idaho, in February. He’ll be hitting the slopes with his son and nephew on his stellar Stöckli skis from Switzerland.

Following his skating days, Kennedy got majorly into skiing and competed in the 1956 Olympic trials. According to a press release, he later revolutionized the sport by inventing aluminum ski poles and foam-injected ski boots, which are still influencing skiing today.

When Kennedy stands on the mountain, he feels like he’s in a different world.

The best part of the experience is “looking around, seeing those mountains, breathing that air, and then the freedom to go. You can’t buy it,” he said.

Living at the Shores has heaps of pluses, as well, such as having dinner with wonderful people each night and soaking up the views of the facility’s trees and lawn and Lake Washington — which is the first thing he sees after rising from sleep each morning, he said.

“Everything is very easygoing in this place,” Kennedy added.

Kennedy will once again get a taste of competing when the 2026 Shores Winter Games occur in February. Featured events will be chair volleyball, table bowling, bocce ball curling, paper skating and more.