The competition took place in the United Palace Theater in Washington Heights on Thursday.
The Department of Aging puts on the annual Talent is Timeless competition, which featured 22 acts this year.
"To me old is when you can't move no more, as long as you have life, you're young at heart," a contestant said.
The first-place winner was 91-year-old Thelma Ruffin Thomas, a retired librarian in Chelsea, who competed in the national finals of the swimming backstroke for adults over 90.
She performed her original spoken-word poem on Black history and the present.
"This has to be an age-inclusive city. Stop thinking they're over the hill, they built this city and still have a lot to contribute," Lorraine Cortes-Vazquez, Dept. for the Aging, Commissioner, said.
Getting to this point is quite an accomplishment. Since May, there have been several rounds of competition with each step of the way including eliminations.
There are roughly 300 senior centers in the city, and most participate in this competition.
Andrea Levitt Baum is taking part for the first time at 83 years young and started singing in high school.
"I was a little nervous about forgetting the lyrics but it felt great," Baum said.
New this year is an audience choice award.
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