Sunshine Coast athletes once again brought back an impressive medal haul in swimming and in track and field from last week's BC Senior Games in Kamloops.
On the track, Gibsons Barry Barone won gold in the 10km road race and a silver in the 1,500m, while Liz Dilasser of Sechelt won an impressive three gold medals in the 1,500m, 10km road race and 5,000m.
In the pool, the Sunshine Coast swim team had another amazing performance with 49 medals.
With the infusion of five new members, the team increased its medal count by four compared to last year. This strong showing reflects not only the strength and dedication of the team members, but also the ongoing coaching from Karen Appolzer and Pat Dickie from the Sechelt Aquatic Centre.
The Sunshine Coast senior swim team started in 2008 with one swimmer and slowly built to its current roster of 26 swimmers, of whom 10 competed in this year's Games. They now constitute 42 per cent of the swimmers in zone four. The Sunshine Coast medals - 20 gold, 15 silver and 14 bronze - represented 46 per cent of the total swimming medals for zone four.
Next year's competition will be held in Langley and the swimmers will be looking forward to another fun and successful year. Anyone age 55 and up is always welcome to join in the participation.
The BC Seniors Games ran from Aug. 20 to 24 and had approximately 3,700 registered competitors. Events range from established multi-sport events such as track and field, cycling and swimming to less traditional events such as horseshoes, darts and cribbage.
The BC Seniors Games were established in 1987. The BC Seniors Games celebrate active and healthy seniors in British Columbia. Participants range in age from 55 to over 90 and take part in 24 events at the Games.
One of the key goals of the BC Seniors Games is to provide a platform for competition, demonstrating the abilities of seniors in the process.
"Our Games have a large and dedicated following. Just to give you an idea, this year marks the 26th anniversary for the BC Seniors Games, and some of our participants have been competing every year since the beginning," said June Parsons, BC Seniors Games Society president. "The Games are about participation and showcasing active living, and we're proud that the BC Seniors Games continue to be extraordinarily successful. It's a testament to the healthy, active senior population we have here in B.C."
