COFFS Harbour swimmers were among the 20,000 participants and supporters who travelled to the Gold Coast between 1-10 November to compete in the 13th Pan Pacific Masters.

The biennial games are the largest Masters event in the world.

Coffs Harbour was represented by nine competitors: Lily Alcock (20-24 years), Tenielle Stubbs (25-29 years), Michael Morton (30-34 years), Jemma Werrell (35-39 years), Daniel Bannerman and Jodie Gordon (40-44 years), Paul Edwards and Louise Dam (55-59 years), and Leanne Da Costa (60 to 64 years).

The Coffs contingent achieved some impressive results, both at the carnival and when their times were compared to swimmers nationwide.

Masters Swimming Australia records the ten fastest swims for each age group across every carnival in 2024.

This includes international events like the World Masters Aquatic Games in Doha.

Lily Alcock had top ten finishes at the Gold Coast in the 50, and 100m freestyle, which is an amazing effort for her first international swim meet.

Jemma Werrell swam several personal best times and achieved a silver and three bronzes.

Jemma’s times in her 800 freestyle, 100m and 200m backstroke saw her recognised in the Australian top ten for her age category.

Tenielle Stubbs competed strongly and broke five Coffs Harbour club records during her swims.

Tenielle’s 100m backstroke was recorded as the seventh fastest time in Australia for her age group this year.

Michael Morton achieved three silver and two bronze medal performances.

Michael recorded top ten times in Australia for his age group in six events this year.

His best results being third fastest in the 400m freestyle and fifth in the 200m freestyle.

Jodie Gordon achieved one gold, a silver and two bronze medals.

Jodie recorded the second fastest time in Australia this year, in the 40-44 years category, for the 800m backstroke, as well as two other top ten times in the 200m and 400m backstroke.

Paul Edwards tackled a large program over the four days, collecting two gold, three silver and seven bronze medals to add to his collection.

He has several top three times in Australia this year for freestyle, butterfly and medley events.

Leanne Da Costa showed great courage after an extremely difficult year, achieving a gold and three silver while turning back the clock by swimming times that bettered many of her personal bests from 2018.

Leanne’s late husband, Grant, was greatly missed by many of the Masters swimmers from around Australia.

His love of swimming, constant encouragement to others and positive attitude significantly impacted many.

Daniel Bannerman and Louise Dam pushed through the soreness and mental fatigue that four days of international competition brings and lined up for the ocean swim.

The event was held at Mermaid Beach on Sunday, 10 November.

Daniel won the 40-44 years age group and was fourth overall from 145 competitors in the 2.5km ocean swim.

He finished the five days with three gold, two silver and three bronzes, proving that the Coffs Harbour coach is more than able to practise what he preaches to his squad members.

Louise, after winning the 1km ocean swim in the 55-59 years, ended a highly successful Games with three gold and a silver medal.

Louise dominated her favourite breaststroke events and recorded the fastest time of any Australian this year for the 800m breaststroke, with top three performances in the 200m and 400m breaststroke and a top ten performance in the 50m.

The Gold Coast Aquatic Centre is the home training pool for many of the Australian swim squad and the Coffs cohort said it was motivational to see the team going through their paces each morning as Masters competitors warmed up for their day’s racing.

On the final morning of competition Olympian Lani Pallister joined a relay of her Aussie team mates to have a fun handicapped race against four of the Masters swimmers.

The crowd loved it.

The youngest swimmer at the four-day carnival was aged nineteen, with the eldest, China Johnson from the Sunshine Coast, aged 96.

China shared the secret to his swimming success in an interview: “I just outlive my competition,” he said.

By Andrea FERRARI