Saint John senior swimmers gunning for gold at national 55+ competition

After spending nearly a year practising at the Saint John Canada GamesAquatic Centre, 78-year-old Brenda Graham has her sights set on the Canada 55+ Gameswith only one thing on her mind:

"To bring back the gold for New Brunswick," she said.

And she isn't the only one.

Graham andher twin sister, Linda Graham, and friend Susan Ainsworthare part of the team representing New Brunswick in swimming at the Quebec City games, which run fromAug. 27-30.Ruben Martinez and Rob Horwood from Fredericton round out the team.

Graham has been swimming since she was two years old and has been a lifeguard for nearly 40 years.

This will be hersecond time competing, having brought home twogoldand twosilver medals fromthe 2022 competitionin Kamloops, B.C.

"When we got our medals, you know, the bronze came, the silver came, I said, 'Well, I guess I didn't do well,'and then I got a gold ...it was quite cool."

At the time, Graham said she was the only swimmer representing New Brunswick.

"I was the only swimmer and it was a little hard to realize that," she said.

"It was really scary, but it was OK. I got through it."

WATCH |New Brunswick's 55+ Games swimmers aim to win and inspire:

Swimmers representing New Brunswick 55+ Games have their eyes on the gold

21 days ago

Duration 2:28

Five swimmers, ages 60-78, will be representing New Brunswick at the games in Quebec starting Aug. 27. Saint Johns Brenda Graham brought home four medals in 2022 and is ready to do it again.

Ainsworth, 66, competed in her youth and saidshe was encouraged to join by Graham.

Inspired by her friend's 2022 wins, Ainsworthalso has her eyeon the medals, but said that's only part of the draw.

"I'm just excited about the friendship that I've made with my two teammates," she said.

"I have no expectations it's a life experience. I think that's what I'm going for, just because I can and no one says I can't do this."

Competition and Community

The Games will featurean array of competitivesports, including golf, darts, pool, badminton and track and field.

Matt Wilson, with Recreation New Brunswick, isthe province's director for the Games. He saidthere are 18 athletes between the ages of 60 and 78 competing this year.

The swimmers will be competing in a variety of categories, including 50-m and 100-m front crawl, breaststroke, backstroke and individual medley.

One of the central themes of the Games is investing in physical health and social wellness through forming community.

"If you're up, you're physical, you're moving, you are less likely [to get]injuries you're just overall going to be a bit healthier," Wilsonsaid. And the participants are allvery competitive individuals.

"You can hear it in the phone calls I've had with a couple of our shuffleboard members ... They wanted to highlight and hit home that they've won gold in the past nationals, and it's something that they're very proud of," he said.

"They take it very seriously, which is a great thing, but I think, the reason why they take it so seriously and why they have such a fun time is also the community that surrounds them within it."

Inspiring others to stay active

Ainsworth saidshe hopes to serve as an example to others to be active and competitive.

"If I can inspire others that are of equal age or younger, I would encourage them to just just go and do it and enjoy it."

Jenn Moore, the team's coach, saidthe swimmers have definitely done that for her.

"I finished my varsity swimming career with [University of New Brunswick] two years ago, and I had a really hard time when I graduated figuring out what to do with this athletic body that I had used for swimming every day of my life, up until that point," she said.

Once she didn't have regular competition in her life anymore, Moorefound it challenging to maintain an active lifestyle.

"Seeing these swimmers that I'm coaching, who are still maintaining that active lifestyle in their 70s, it is incredibly inspiring and it shows me what I want to be when I reach my 70s," she said.