Senior Games Medalist Airlifted Following Injury at Lake Norfork

An 82-year-old athlete from the Twin Lakes Area, renowned for her success in the National Senior Games, was airlifted to a hospital Sunday evening after sustaining a serious leg injury at Lake Norfork.

According to reports from the Baxter County Sheriff's Office, emergency responders were called to the Robinson Point Campgrounds and Recreation Area around 6:48 p.m. to coordinate a landing zone for Air Evac.

Investigators determined that Mary Jo Augustine-Traver was spending time with family members when she jumped into the water from a location known as Big E Bluffs. Upon impact, she suffered an injury that family members initially believed was related to a hip replacement she had undergone approximately three months prior. She was transported by boat to the Robinson Point swim area, where medical personnel were waiting to provide assistance.

While the incident occurred around 6:00 p.m., the severity of the injury became clearer during the medical evaluation. Air Evac personnel determined that Augustine-Traver had suffered a broken femur rather than a hip injury. She was stabilized, sedated, and flown to Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, accompanied by her daughter.

Augustine-Traver is a prominent figure in the regional competitive swimming community. Representing Arkansas at the 2025 National Senior Games in Des Moines, Iowa, she medaled in all four of her events. Her impressive performance included a first-place finish in the backstroke and second-place finishes in the butterfly, freestyle, and 100-meter individual medley.

The National Senior Games, frequently referred to as the Senior Olympics, feature athletes aged 50 and older from across the United States competing in more than 20 different sports.

The incident remains under investigation.