Frank Fesche credits keeping fit with saving his life — and as the 80-year-old trains for both the GemLife Games and Ironman 70.3 Sunshine Coast in September, he’s more than proving the notion age is just a number.
The Sunshine Coast resident is among 740 athletes, volunteers and spectators in their 50s to 80s, including 470 from the Sunshine Coast alone, who will go head-to-head at the third annual GemLife Games, on September 11 and 12 September at GemLife Palmwoods.
He’ll compete in the 25-metre freestyle swim, following the event a few days later with a 1.9km swim, 90km bike ride, and 21.1km run at the Mooloolaba ironman on 14 September.
“Taking part is motivation for me; motivation to get up in the mornings, get outside, do the training, and keep healthy of course,” said Frank, who lives at GemLife Palmwoods.
“Nine years ago, I had a triple bypass. I didn’t even realise I had a heart problem, and it was only discovered through a sporting injury.
“At the time, I’d just completed the Cairns ironman and qualified for the World Champs. A scan on a sore knee found calcification and when doctors took a closer look I was airlifted to Townsville for the bypass.
“They said if I wasn’t so fit, I would have been dead years ago, so keeping active saved my life.”
Designed for older athletes, whether lifelong competitors, weekend warriors or those new to their sport, the GemLife Games brings together over-50s from across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria for two days of competition.
An initiative of over-50s lifestyle developer GemLife, the inter-resort event champions fitness, fun and friendship among older Australians, who contest eight sports — lawn bowls, pickleball, ten-pin bowling, tennis, table tennis, eight-ball pool, virtual golf and swimming.
Frank, who was a spectator last year, was encouraged to participate by fellow residents.
“It’s such a brilliant event and a great motivator for people to get involved in some sort of activity, because it can become too easy to slip into a sedentary lifestyle,” he said.
Jo O’Mahony is looking forward to competing in the freestyle, backstroke and breaststroke swimming events at the GemLife Games, and is also on standby for lawn bowls.
It’s the third year the GemLife Palmwoods resident has competed, and she said meeting new people and having fun are the aims of the game.
“It does get competitive in lawn bowls and swimming, in particular. We’ve been doing swimming time trials to improve our 25-metre sprint,” said Jo.
“Although, this year we’re taking a more laid-back approach and enjoying the experience instead of training too hard. It is great to see people getting out of their homes, joining in and having fun at the same time.”
Jo took up lawn bowls when she moved to GemLife Palmwoods three years ago and said she loved the fact anyone could compete.
“I didn’t think I’d be a lawn bowler, but I love it. If you have the ability, you can beat anyone, no matter your age or gender,” she said.
GemLife Managing Director and Group CEO Adrian Puljich said the GemLife Games had become legendary across its communities, with competitor numbers growing every year.
“That’s what it is all about; encouraging over 50s to stay active and healthy, try new things, set new goals, and come together in a fun, supportive environment,” he said.
“In the lead up to the Games, all our facilities, including our lawn bowls greens, pickleball and tennis courts, and swimming pools, are buzzing with residents training for the big day.
“Some pick up a new sport for the first time just to compete. While lawn bowls remains ever popular, it’s exciting to see newer sports like pickleball among the most hotly contested.
“It’s also incredibly rewarding to see the new friendships formed — from residents opening their homes to billet athletes travelling for the competition to cheering each other from the sidelines.”
