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PRESS > NORTH SHORE MASTERS IN THE NEWS

Masters of their domain
Erin McPhee

Local athletes proved themselves on the international stage at the 2005 World Masters Games in Edmonton recently, setting a world record and bringing home multiple gold, silver and bronze medals.

Fred Schulhof, an 86-year-old West Vancouver resident, won seven gold medals and one silver medal at this year's games in a variety of swimming events. Of his medals, five were awarded for individual races and three were for relays. He mainly swims the back and breaststroke disciplines, he said.

"It was a very, very big meeting," Schulhof said. "There were 21,000 athletes in Edmonton from 84 nations."

Schulhof has set, held and broken a number of Canadian swim records over the years.

"I try and swim against my own records," he said.

Schulhof presently holds 11 Canadian records, he said.

"I started (swimming competitively) in my university days in Ireland," he said.

While he took some time off when he moved to Canada, Schulhof now swims with the North Vancouver Masters swim group, which is part of the Masters Swimming Association of B.C.

"You'll find people, more and more as the younger generation comes up, are swimming into their late 70s, 80s and 90s," said Schulhof. "I think people are more conscious of maintaining health with sports."

Neil Chomos, 36, owner of B-Fit Personal Training on Fell Avenue, won a pair of gold medals in the 800 and 1,500 metres races in track at the World Masters Games.

Chomos retired from competitive running five years ago, but he was recently asked by two clients, Peter Bell and Barb Wiens - who are also swimmers with North Vancouver Masters - to assist in their dryland training for the games.

"They kind of encouraged me to give it a try myself," Chomos said.

The personal trainer said he was inspired by what he witnessed at the games and now plans to compete in the 2009 World Masters Games which are planned for Sydney, Australia.

"If you can just imagine someone (age) 95 running to start with, but 95 and jumping hurdles?" he said. "A lot of these people will go to numerous international competitions and that's their main focus and that's how they stay healthy."

Chomos' clients fared well at the games also. Bell, 70, won three gold, two silver and two bronze medals and set a World Masters record for a time of 3:11.99 in the 200-m breaststroke. Wiens, 58, won a gold and a silver medal.

"To have a client in his 70s setting world records is amazing," Chomos said. "I want to try and promote that train of thought on the North Shore."

Chomos said he hopes the success of the local athletes at the games inspires others to get involved in sport.

"It's not just about winning," he said. "It's about staying healthy and participating."

Other North Vancouver Masters swimmers who placed at the games include: Joan Parnell, who won three gold, four silver and one bronze; Valerie Hadd, who won five gold and one bronze; Claire Booth, who won two bronze; Georgina Lopez, who won two gold and four silver; and Deborah Robertson, who won a bronze. Other local competitors included Graham Kwan and Salvador Huerta.

West Van's Olga Kotelko won gold in the women's 85+ weight pentathlon event in Edmonton, and North Vancouver's Doreen McLeod-Smith finished first in the women's 80+ hammer throw, javelin and shot put events.

The International Masters Games Association was created in 1995 with the intent to promote competition, friendship and understanding between athletes regardless of age, gender, race, religion, or sport status. The minimum competitive age is usually 30 years old, but depends on the individual sport.

For the complete results of the 2005 World Masters Games visit www.2005worldmasters.com.

North Shore News - August 17, 2005

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