The World Masters games, is basically the equivalent of the Olympic games for masters sports.

Masters sports start at different ages, depending on the sport and you compete in age group categories (5 years grouped together, e.g. 40-44 years old) which enables you to remain competitive regardless of your age.

For lifesaving, I took part in the 70m beach sprint, an elimination event called beach flags, and the beach relay event. On the athletics track I ran the 200m and 400m. I was fortunate enough to win a gold medal in each of the 5 events. My season then finished 5 days after returning from New Zealand, when I travelled to Cape Town for the SA Masters Athletics Championships. It was a perfect end to a perfect season, winning 3 more gold medals.

I ended the season unbeaten in lifesaving and athletics in my age group, including at the KZN champs, the SA champs and the World Masters Games..

My training and preparation for these games has been ongoing since June last year. Typically my training consisted of 6 sessions per week on the athletics track, 2 sessions on the beach, 1 cross-training session and 1 plyometric/strength session per week. It’s been a very busy couple of months, but now I am looking forward to spending some quality time with my lovely wife Alice and my 2 sons, Toby and Jamie. My next big competition is possibly going to be the World Masters Athletics championships in Malaga, which is only in September 2018..

By Wayne Holroyd