Although participation is the main aim of the Sunshine Coast Senior Games swim team, and the accompanying opportunity to meet athletes from all over British Columbia, team members are also hoping to increase their medal count this August.

The B.C. Senior Games will be held in the West Kootenays Aug. 16 to 20.

Last year the team returned to the Coast with 34 medals: 10 gold, 13 silver and 11 bronze.

Team member Bruce McDonald said his preliminary estimate for medals this year is 45 with 17 gold, six silver and 16 bronze.

The Coast was represented by one swimmer in 2008, six in 2009 and 10 in 2010. This year’s team will feature 12 swimmers on the Zone 4 team. They include McDonald, Fred Lerner, Ian Hooley, Jack Adams, Manfred Baur, Siemion Altman, Christine Chandler, Jung Shin, Linda Buckingham, Linda Duff, Lucille Oakey and Marilyn Adams.

“This means that the Sunshine Coast is now providing approximately 44 per cent of the Zone 4 team,” McDonald said.

Zone 4 is the largest zone in the province, comprised of athletes from Burnaby, Delta, Ladner, New Westminster, North and West Vancouver, Richmond, Tsawwassen, Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler and the Sunshine Coast. The majority of the Coast team has been training throughout the winter and is now in full competition mode with regular training sessions at the Sechelt Aquatic Centre, under the coaching of Pat Dickie from the Sunshine Coast Regional District.

— Submitted