"Fit, fun and forever young" was the motto for the Sydney 2009 World Masters Games. Their ages ranged from 25, Canada's Facundo Chernikov in Swimming, to 101, Reg Trewin of Griffith who played Lawn Bowls, partnered by Helene Harris who was "only" in her sixties.
Tom Treseder, Co-Founder Megavoice International Ltd and former NSW Director of the Bible Society, has again come away from a World Masters Games with a handful of trophies.
He competed in an eight man scull and won a Gold Medal. In a single scull, two double sculls and two eight sculls, he won five Silver Medals!
Peter Grogan gained a Silver Medal in the Men's 50m Freestyle and a Bronze Medal in the Men's 100m Freestyle, Swimming. He also participated in the 4x50m Men's Relay, in a formidable team known as the "Ryde Aussie Masters."
Mr Grogan (75) attends St Swithun's Anglican Church, Pymble, and has served as the Chancellor of the Anglican Sydney Diocese, (2005-2008) and as a former District Court judge.
Also affiliated with St Swithun's Anglican Church, Pymble, is David Hollister. David won a Gold Medal in the 50m Free Rifle Prone shooting event, on Tuesday, October 13.
The Rector, Rev Roger Chilton commented that: "There were other competitors from our church but it was David and Peter who brought home medals."
Baptist Pastor and evangelist, George Capsis, of Cronulla, won a Bronze Medal in weightlifting, with his snatch of 77kg. His wife, Gail Capsis explained that a snatch is: "pulling the weight from the floor to the chest, with a squat in there somewhere, and then up straight with weight over head where you have to hold for a count."
Rev Dr David Smethurst, of the Assemblies of God, from Sunnybank Hills, Queensland, competed in the Men's 200m Freestyle (in 3'35.11" – bettering his previous time of 3'40"); the Men's 100m Freestyle (in 1'27.16" compared to 1'28") and the 50m Freestyle Swimming race in 35.18".
When interviewed after his second race, he was more excited about the opportunities to witness to other competitors than any loss or gain of a winning position.
Rev Dr David Tyndall, Director Anglican Sports Ministries, Sydney, ran in the Men's 100 metres Sprint, with a time of 15.30" and the Cross Country 8km, in a time of 27'44.14". As the National Chaplain Co-ordinator Sports Chaplaincy Australia; Director Anglican Sports Ministries and Senior Chaplain Anglican Retirement Villages, Dr Tyndall also enjoyed the fellowship of meeting so many others, from different countries.
The next World Masters Games will be held in Torino, Italy in 2013.