Rally call to ‘masters’ athletes

The Cook Islands will host the Oceania Masters Athletics Championships in 2015 and master athlete Paul Allsworth is encouraging ‘ageing’ athletes to never stop and to keep going.

Allsworth was one of nine local athletes who attended the Oceania Masters Athletics Champs in New Zealand last week where he won two bronze medals in the 60m and 100m sprints. Anyone over 30 is classed as a master athlete.

Allsworth was amazed at the number of athletes at last week’s New Zealand gathering who were over 60 years of age.

“What amazed me and I suppose a lot of the so-called younger athletes at these games, was the high number of older athletes in their 60s to 90s,” says Allsworth.

Allsworth adds that one of the athletes at the event was a 102-year-old woman who competed in a number of events during the week-long athletics meeting.

From his experience in New Zealand, Allsworth is inspired to encourage retired athletes to keep doing what is best for you.

Do some physical training each day for at least 20 minutes, the more the better or put more in during the weekends,” says Allsworth.

“Eating the right food will help and this will keep your weight in balance with whatever activity you are doing.”

Allsworth is encouraging more masters and elderly folk to be more active and take up an activity or sport.

“It could be walking, running, jumping, throwing or swimming or whatever you are good at. The main thing is to enjoy it and stay fit at what you’re doing.”

Bendigo in Australia will host the next masters games and the Cook Islands will play hosts in 2015.

Those interested in joining masters athletics can contact David Lobb on 21007.