About 30 residents from exercise groups run at Uniting’s Central Coast assisted living villages got into the Olympic spirit with their own version of the Olympic Games – just as competitive but not quite as physical.
The residents at Nareen Terrace at Hamlyn Terrace and Nareen Gardens at Bateau Bay held a range of adapted events on Tuesday, August 6 – hurdles, cycling, a 10m dash (with four-wheel walkers and walking sticks), balance beam and javelin (with pool noodles).
Winners from each event are: Hurdles – gold Marilyn Pritchard, silver Jenny Lowe, bronze Barbara Gilbert; Javelin – gold Denise Skudder, silver Roslyn Thomson, bronze Allan Douglass; Cycling – gold Carolyn Chidgey, silver Trish Robley, bronze Bernadette Ambrose; Balance beam – gold Anne Hillsdon, silver Veronica Phillips, bronze Trish Robley; 10m sprint – gold Marilyn Pritchard, silver Margaret Attenborough, bronze Allan Douglass.
Uniting exercise physiologist and organiser of the mini-Olympics Georgia Stewart said the residents had an absolute ball.
“They have all been really excited to watch Australia compete in the real Olympics in Paris, and so were keen to showcase their own progress and enthusiasm in their chosen events after working hard in their fitness classes over the past year,” she said.
“The aim of the mini-Olympics was not only to make them feel like they were part of the celebrations, it was also to highlight the camaraderie and joy they all experience from staying active together.”
Gold medallist Marilyn Pritchard thanked Georgia and the Assisted Living team for the group classes.
“They have really enriched our lives and improved our physical wellbeing,” she said.
And silver medallist in the 10m dash, Margaret Attenborough, said they all had a great time and plenty of laughs.
The events were all designed for competitiveness and fun, whilst also focusing on safety.
Hurdles were between 15cm and 30cm in height to help build hip strength for safe mobility, the cycling was performed on stationary foot pedals and the 10m dash incorporated four-wheel walkers and walking sticks for balance.
The balance beam was made of foam and the javelin used pool noodles to help measure upper limb strength.