Masters Games: Participation a life-changer for many

Gold medals are important, but there has always been more to the New Zealand Masters Games than the opportunity to parade the silverware.

The competitors are proud of their medals and they are often given pride of place in their homes.

This is justified because there are lots of stories of how competing at the Masters Games has changed lives.

Dunedin's Marinus Boon (77) broke two indoor rowing world records at the 2006 Games in his home city.

He was competing in the men's aged over 75 competition and completed the 500m in 1min 35.70sec and the 1000m in 3min 42.10sec.

But these efforts started 25 years earlier, when he took stock of his life. At that time his life was on the slide and he was drinking and smoking to excess. He had high blood pressure and a high heart rate.

Hamilton's Rose Jacob (95) broke an indoor rowing world record in the over 90 age group in 2010 in the 1000m. She had broken the 300m record two years earlier in 2008.

Jacob did not believe that age should stop her from being active and spent four days each week training at a Hamilton gymnasium for the Masters Games.

Gore golfer Ivan Elder was aged 93 when he went round the St Clair course in 106 shots in 2012. He started playing golf in England in 1942 when he was in the air force in World War 2. A proud moment two years ago was to shoot his age with a score of 93 on the Gore course. Elder, now 95, is back for more gold at the Masters Games next week.

The Masters Games are a platform for Lenore (76) and Forbes (80) Sonntag to break New Zealand masters swimming records at Moana Pool.

Lenore, a talented swimmer in her youth, returned to the sport at the age of 30 as a masters swimmer and finds the Masters Games is a good excuse to keep training hard. She broke four national records in the 74 to 79 age group two years ago.

Southland deer farmer Peter Grandiek was aged 80 when he won seven gold medals in Masters Games cycling in 2012. He was the oldest cyclist at the event. Grandiek started cycling in 2007 to keep fit and it helped him to survive a triple bypass.

Steve Prescott has dominated the open water swim and outclassed the younger swimmers to win five consecutive titles. He also won the gold medal in the event in 1998 and 2000.

Prescott has also won two world titles in open water swimming, in Melbourne in 2003 and Edmonton in 2005.

There are 5258 competitors registered for the 25th annual New Zealand Masters Games.

They will be assisted by 300 volunteers - 150 at the Games Village and another 150 officiating at sports events.

Lorraine McHoull is in charge of euchre that is being held at the Mosgiel RSA today and tomorrow.

''I've been busy cooking 200 muffins today to make sure the competitors don't go hungry,'' she said.


Masters Games: At a glance
Dates:
February 1-9.
Headquarters: Otago University Union.
Sports: 70.Competitors: 5258.
Overseas competitors from: Guam, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, India, Switzerland, Germany, Australia.
Volunteers: 300 (150 at Games Village, 150 at sports).
Major sports: Football (54 teams, 689 competitors), netball (72 teams, 689 competitors), golf (225 competitors).


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