Bob Reed was preparing for his swimming races three days before the start of the 2013 B.C. Seniors Games in Kamloops, as he had done year-in, year-out the past 20-some years. But this time, he suffered an angina attack while training in Courtenay.
“I passed out, sank to the bottom of the pool, and then three days in a coma,” said Reed, 83. “I came out and seemed to be alright.”
“Luckily it happened here,” his wife Mary said.
The Courtenay resident now has a fibrillator, but it hasn’t curbed Bob’s prowess in the pool. He came back the following year by winning three bronze medals at the 2014 Games in Langley — and won a bunch more at the next two events.
He and Mary are preparing for their 26th trip to the annual event, now called the 55+ B.C. Games, which run Sept. 12-16 in Vernon.
Bob was too young when Vernon hosted the inaugural Games in 1988. But he had come of age when the Comox Valley hosted the third event.
“I’d never been in competition before. It was fun, so we kept going,” said Bob, who learned to swim in Kootenay Lake while growing up in Creston.
Mary started with tennis — which she had played in her native England — but switched to badminton.
“I always wanted to play badminton,” said Mary, who competes in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. “And besides, I don’t have to sit in the sun. Weather-wise, badminton’s better. I don’t sunbathe very well.”
Collectively, the Reeds have won 122 medals. The tally would be higher had they collected each and every one.
“Not too worried about it,” said Bob, who last year entered four events but managed to win five medals.
“I keep bragging about that,” he said with a laugh. “They have team events. Four of us each take a different stroke. They had one guy that had to drop out so I dropped into his place and then took two silvers.”
Bob is one of four Comox Valley swimmers who will be part of the Zone 2 North Island contingent in Vernon. The others are Brian Staton, Joan Lightfoot and Jesse Van Muijlwijk.
More than 3,5000 athletes, officials and supporters are expected at the 30th annual multi-sport Games in Vernon. There will be 27 sports and activities at this year’s event.