Zone 2 swimmers made waves at the 55+ BC Games in Coquitlam, Sept. 22-24.
The team of 18 swimmers took home at total of 123 medals: 59 gold, 33 silver, and 31 bronze.
The four swimmers representing the Comox Valley received their share of hardware, with the following results:
Bob Reed, Men age 80-84: silver in 25m breaststroke, bronze in 25m backstroke and 50m freestyle; as well as silver in the medley relay and a bronze in the freestyle relay.
Joan Lightfoot, Women age 70-74: gold in 100m backstroke, bronze in 50m backstroke, 200m freestyle and 100m breaststroke; as well as silvers in the medley and mixed freestyle relays and a bronze in the freestyle relay.
Brian Staton, Men age 65-69: gold in 25m freestyle, 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle, silver in 50m breaststroke; as well as two more gold in the medley and freestyle relays, and a silver in the mixed freestyle relay.
Jesse Van Muijlwijk, Men age 55-59: gold in 25m breaststroke, 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, 200m freestyle, silver in 25m freestyle and 400m freestyle; as well as gold medals in the medley and freestyle relays.
This was Van Muijlwijk's first 55+ BC Games – in fact it was his first-ever swim meet. “It was a fantastic weekend, and this event, for which I had been looking forward to for five years (couldn’t wait to be 55!) certainly exceeded my expectations,” he said, adding he hopes more "young" participants will take part in the years to come.
The 55+ BC Games, a multi-sport event, takes place every year. Next year the Games will be in Vernon from Sept, 12-16.