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All eyes were on Olympians last week, but the setting wasn't Vancouver and the athletes weren't wearing spandex. They were residents of the Lorien of Mount Airy, who competed in their own version of the winter games on Nintendo Wii, a wireless interactive video gaming system.

Resident athlete Susan Merrill, 83, won gold in a speed skating competition on Feb. 17, and said she almost feels like she's at the winter games in Vancouver.

"You get the feeling that you're a part of the whole thing," she said, sitting in the assisted living facility's lobby Friday as fellow Olympians took their turns in front of two TVs set up for the events.

Merrill, who has sight problems, said her vision hasn't been a huge problem. "Praise the Lord that I can see out one eye," she said.

Merrill has developed a technique, finding that in the bowling competition, sitting farther back helps her rack up a higher average. "I got a lot of encouragement," she said. "The rest get behind and cheer us on."

Merrill, who was a skater as a child in Vermont, looked forward to the skating competition on the Wii because it "seemed fast."

Activity staff had set up the TVs in the lobby to provide more interaction opportunity with visitors, staff and fellow residents, said activities director Helen Bowman, who organized the weeklong event.

A fake torch fluttered on a baby grand piano between the two gaming areas, and medalists' photos and names decorated the walls along with international flags.

"Usually in January and February, it is hard to get the residents excited," Bowman said, saying the especially wintry weather hasn't helped this year.

But residents had become excited about the activity, reaching out to others, she said, adding that one Olympian had given away a medal to a resident to cheer them up.

Resident Doris Jaeger, 77, scored silver on the ski jump. In fact, the Lorien resident has earned three silver medals in different events. She said the highlight of the competition for her was winning so much.

"It was surprising because I didn't think I'd win anything," she said, as she waited for her turn at bowling, silver medals looping her neck.

Farther back in the lobby, resident Harry Koustenis said he's just a spectator who has been down a few times to watch over the past week. "Sometimes I bring my newspaper," said the 85-year-old, talking over cheering as an athlete bowled a strike, saying it got him out of his room and around other people.

Bowman said it was the first time they had done the Olympics activity.

The Lorien bought a winter sports game that didn't require a Wii fit device, where competitors would have to stand and jump on a platform. Residents then went through two weeks of "tryouts" and practices prepare for the opening ceremonies, complete with a parade, on Feb. 12.

In the end, 11 residents chose to compete: six assisted-care and five long-term residents. Bowman said more would have competed, but athletes were required to do all events: bobsled, ski jump, speed skating, luge and bowling.

Bowling? "We've been using the Wii and doing regular bowling for the last two years," Bowman said, explaining that residents felt strongly about adding bowling to the games despite the lack of Olympics status.

"They are serious about it," said staff member Lori Curbow, one of the coaches for the activity.

She said she had played Wii with her daughter at home, but the residents were a whole lot better than her. She said the activity is great because residents are having fun while doing physical activity.

Curbow said some athletes hadn't taken their medals off all week. "It's really neat to walk down the hall and see the residents with their medals," she said.