Inspiring stories - Pan-Pacific Masters Games 2018

Yeah, I know: this thread should be in Sports or Seniors. 

But we all need some happy achievers and strong role models, some community pillars who 'just get on with it' rather than work for headlines. Let's celebrate with the more than 15,000 senior athletes who've arrived on the Gold Coast to compete in this year's PPMG in more than 40 sports, and let's cheer them as they excel in their passions and discover new interests.

https://mastersgames.com.au/ppmg/about/

https://mastersgames.com.au/ppmg/sports/


We've just held the AustralianTransplant Games a couple of weeks ago - athletes as young as 9 years old to well over 60 years old competing in all kinds of sports and games, and achieving goals that had this city ringing with cheers equal to the excitement back in April when Commonwealth Games were on. 

https://australiantransplantgames.com/games-info/  Sports

https://australiantransplantgames.com/games-info/games-results/

And, of course, you'll probably be aware that Sydney hosted the Invictus Games last month.


Wombat, 68, nails his first pitch after a massive stroke two years ago. 

https://mastersgames.com.au/ppmg/wombat-nails-first-pitch-after-massive-scare/

I heard him interviewed on the radio before the game, he was sooooo excited about this Masters competition and his family being here to watch. 


Seeded last and still excited to give it a go after 30 years' absence in squash:

https://mastersgames.com.au/ppmg/back-swing-squash-30-years/


I'm finding it really difficult to get a snapshot, even by country or by day's events, of updated results and meaningful team/athlete backgrounds. This is quite disappointing, usually these events are better supported.  I'd prefer to be able to present other cameos. 

I found this link to a determined deaf surfer, not on the Masters site, and still very inspiring.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-04/how-one-punch-changed-surf-coach-andy-kings-life/10299524


Garry survived a workplace accident involving 11000volts of live current, resulting in the amputation of both lower arms. Then he overcame his lifelong dislike of running - to become a long-distance runner: 

https://mastersgames.com.au/ppmg/garry-set-tough-pan-pacs-campaign-overcoming-dislike-running-plenty/


Some of the cricket teams have very 'poetic' names, almost as if they're competing with the soccer and footy teams. (A horde of footballers from up north seem to known as Dunrooten United) 

The weather has suddenly turned unspeakably muggy (100% humidity all week, with very poor air quality, so quite bad if you're asthmatic or have arthritis etc), and the glare factor is very high. Cricket traditionally is a fairly slow game, so players tend to cook as they stand out in the open all day.

https://mastersgames.com.au/ppmg/cricket-spiced-international-flavour/


Meet indoor rowing champs, 93-year-old Vincent and 87-year-old Beryl:

https://mastersgames.com.au/ppmg/home-is-where-the-heart-is/


oldest competitors claim silver and gold - we're talking about a 93-year-old endurance swimmer, and Vincent the indoor rower from above

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-08/old-swimmers-pan-pacific-masters-games/10478276


Born in the UK, and the 143rd person to swim the English Channel, Jane Solomon is at at the Pan-Pac Masters

https://mastersgames.com.au/ppmg/english-channel-conqueror-jane-sets-tough-pan-pacs-program/

The Shanghai Swimstars club are here, too

https://mastersgames.com.au/ppmg/shanghai-swimstars-sports-club-descend-gold-coast-games/


Hall of Fame inductees include Tenpin Bowling stars, an athlete who's won 28 gold medals in two decades and more stars

https://mastersgames.com.au/ppmg/veterans-bowled-hall-fame-inductions/


CrossFit World Champions participating in the Masters 3-day endurance event. We've got perfect weather for it, too; it had been disgustingly hot and humid with filthy air quality but a bit of wind and rain yesterday has fixed that. It's still windy today, and cooler.

Just recently, the pair competed in the 2017 and 2018 World CrossFit Games in the United States, which Cherise said is equivalent to the Olympic Games for CrossFit.

https://mastersgames.com.au/ppmg/world-champion-siblings-hungry-gold-fitness-challenge/




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