A no-excuses attitude and iron determination have kept Kevin Olds, 69, young and spry through the decades. He is not only a physical therapist for the Memphis Tigers basketball team, but also trains athletes and runs a health optimization business, while maintaining a grueling fitness routine that keeps him in step with athletes half his age.
Kevin has been active his entire life, in a rugged, no-frills kind of way. Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, he played basketball for nearly 12 hours a day to stay out of trouble. He briefly went pro with the Cleveland Indians, then joined the military as a Navy Corpsman and later a Marine Combatant before serving as an Air Force captain for 12 years. “The discipline of the military saved me,” he explains of growing up without a father. “It made me appreciate things people often take for granted and develop a sense of internal discipline.”
Still, Kevin dreamed of one day becoming a physical therapist. “I have always had a heart for helping people,” he says of deciding to re-enroll in college following his service.
A natural problem-solver, Kevin quickly made a name for himself in the field, standing out for how quickly he got athletes back in the game. “It takes a lot of deep diving to understand what is going on with tendon and tissue healing and what happens when those fibers pull apart,” he explains of his approach, which he has developed through continuous education and out-of-the-box thinking.
Nearing 70, Kevin applies everything he teaches and preaches to his own life. “I train just as hard as my athletes to show them if they are consistent over time and take care of their bodies, just how much it can do.”
Despite having undergone 15 surgeries from wear-and-tear injuries, including two hip replacements of which he took his own X-rays, Kevin remains disciplined and motivated as ever. “Jumping out of helicopters with 110-pound backpacks in the military didn’t feel great upon landing,” he quips, “but none of it has slowed me down.”
His days begin at 4:30 a.m., with over an hour gym session at Crunch Fitness. “You have to train when you are uncomfortable and put yourself in those positions consistently for longevity,” he says matter-of-factly.
That same philosophy of helping people stay in the game for as long as possible eventually led Kevin to expand his work beyond the clinic. “I started seeing a gap in caring for patients and what they were doing outside of the clinic,” he explains. “Many of them were overwhelmed with all the information online about workouts, diet, supplements, and avoiding injury. I thought I could start to help these people.”
Through his health optimization business, Prime Life Performance, Kevin assists individuals of all ages, from young athletes to seniors seeking to climb stairs independently, helping them optimize their health based on personal goals. “I like helping them identify and understand what is going to bring them joy in life,” he shares.
Kevin covers everything from medical history, diet, and medications to gym routines and injuries. Drawing on the same problem-solving mindset that has defined his physical therapy practice, he says, “It’s all about safety and putting the person first.”
To schedule an appointment with Kevin or to learn more, visit his website at Primelifeperformance.org.
By Shlomit Cohen
Photo by Tindall Stephens
