REDLANDS Master Club swimmers – including 76-year-old Rod Mackenzie – ended 2018 on a high note after claiming 16 individual medals at the Pan Pacific Masters Games.
Mackenzie nabbed nine medals at the event, the world’s largest biennial masters games, which attracted athletes from more than 30 countries.
Mackenzie had taken some time out from competition but trained solo during the winter months last year to get into shape for the event held on the Gold Coast.
His program came together with some motivation and sprint pace training from Cleveland Aquatic Centre’s head swim coach Nick Pedrazzini and fine tuning and stroke correction from Redlands Bayside Masters coach Trevor Green.
Mackenzie secure gold on the first day in the 1500 metre freestyle with a time of 28.44.35 – more than a minute faster than he had been swimming for some time.
He then set his sights on achieving a Masters Swimming Australia’s elite MSX platinum award which requires multiple qualifying times.
Mackenzie achieved the goal, securing the award in his last individual event with encouragement and applause from fellow Redlands swimmers Peter Fitzgerald, Trevor Green, Dorothy Simmons, Rosalie Lutvey, Kathy Ellis, Nathan Mead, Clive Griffin and John King.
Mackenzie’s wife Gill said that all her husband had ever wanted to do was swim and she, along with their children and grandchildren were immensely proud of his motivation and determination.
The three youngest grandchildren joined swimming club squads shortly after Mackenzie’s Pan Pacs success, aiming to win medals like their grandfather.
Mackenzie also won gold medals for the 400 metre freestyle, 100 metre and 50 metre backstroke, silver for the 200 metre, 100 metre and 50 metre freestyle and gold for the 4x50 metre freestyle and 4x50 metre medley relays.
The Redlands Bayside team of 10 won 16 individual medals and their relay teams accrued four gold medals.
Other individual medallists were Dorothy Simmons, Peter Fitzgerald, Rob Howes, John King, Rosalie Lutvey and Trevor Green.
Former Redlands Bayside president Shane Knight, the Masters Swimming Queensland president, was the swimming meet director, while Redlands members Rose Milnes and Linda Mansfield volunteered at the event.
The Redlands Bayside Masters Swimming Club provides coached sessions on Wednesday evenings and Sunday mornings at Cleveland Aquatic Centre.
It is open to members aged from 18 upwards.
For information, contact the Cleveland Aquatic Centre.
