From one battle to the next, including four types of cancers linked to his time at Ground Zero, it goes without saying that Eliot Winokur’s resilience remains unshaken.

As a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, a competitive swimmer, and a cancer warrior, he faces every day with the same discipline and determination that defined his 35 years of military service. 

Swimming isn’t just a sport for him; it’s his lifeline. Three times a week he races against the clock in the local swimming lap pool, covering a mile and a half per session.

For over 40 years, Eliot has been a competitive swimmer, a passion he credits to his late brother.

“My brother was a competition swimmer, and he got me into it,” Eliot recalls. “He passed away from Parkinson’s at 79, but I keep a picture of him in my bedroom that motivates me to keep going.”

The bravery he discovered in service continues in him today as an 80-year-old who takes the path less traveled. He says, “I pick events that older folks stay away from, like the 400-meter individual medley and the 200-meter butterfly. There’s not much competition, and I enjoy the challenge.”

For Eliot, every stroke is a declaration: age, illness, and hardship will never define him.

His military career shaped his ability to stay focused, overcome adversity, and push forward—qualities that have helped him fight cancer.

“The military gave me discipline and focus,” he says. “It taught me to pick a goal, stick with it, and achieve it. That mindset is what’s helped me keep going through every health challenge.”

His service was extensive, spanning both active duty and reserve duty. He started as a U.S. Army security agency cryptanalytic specialist and later became a medical service officer, spending 7 years recruiting doctors for the Army Reserve.

Yet, his dedication to service didn’t end with retirement, it carried over into his fight for his own health.

Despite his medical conditions, the soldier has never allowed negativity to take root.

“You have two choices—stay positive, or let negativity ruin your health,” he explains. “I choose positivity. I am already past the life expectancy of the average American male. That means I’m on borrowed time. But nobody knows how much time they have left, so I’m going to make the best of every day.”

As he pushes boundaries most would not and sets the example, he chooses the VA healthcare to support this being possible.

As a former recruiter for U.S. Army Reserve doctors, he understood the qualifications of VA medical professionals better than most.

“I know their credentials, their backgrounds, and their expertise,” he says. “It’s a great system, and I wanted all my records in one place, whether at the Bronx VA in New York or West Palm Beach VA. That continuity is critical, especially for someone with a lot of medical issues.”

Eliot believes that seeking care early can be lifesaving. “A stitch in time saves nine,” he says. “If you take care of things early, you’re far better off than waiting until it’s too late.”

With every swim, every breath, and every fight, Eliot Winokur proves that resilience isn’t about surviving; it’s about thriving.