"We only came here to give it a shot," says Sapphire Coast swimming champion Bruce Williamson from the 17th Australian Masters Games in Adelaide.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"We didn't expect to get gold - now we're over the moon."
The Stingrays squad consisting of competitors Alan Cameron, 82, Vivian Hughes, 72, Patricia Helmore, 68, and Bruce Williamson, 67, proved they were not only stingrays, but sharks in the pool over the longweekend.
The team tallied up a whopping total of 21 individual medals, including 10 golds between them as well as two team effort relay golds.
And if that wasn't enough they also shared their stroke prowess, helping other competing teams to get a taste of gold in their relays.
The Stingrays placed equal-10th on the leadership board out of 73 competing teams.
Mr Williamson said the four were "completely thrilled" especially considering they only formed last year as a way to keep their health up.
"We're not professional swimmers at all. We've done way better than we expected, it just goes to show there is no real limit to what you can do," he said.
The Stingrays squad is a part of the Sapphire Coast Adult Swimming Club, members of which train regularly at Sapphire Coast Aquatic Centre in Pambula.
Mr Williamson, who was a part of the Masters swimming movement in Sydney, said he started the Far South Coast branch after a 10-year hiatus from the water.
"There's not enough focus on swimming for adults, the masters swimming movement is all about ensuring we stay on top of things health wise.
"We're not master swimmers and we encourage people of all abilities to come along," he said, adding the youngest in the club is 30 years of age and the oldest is fellow competitor Alan Cameron at 82.
"I think we could have people join up until 105 years of age, there's really no stopping them and this proves it," he said.
RESULTS BREAKDOWN.
Patricia Helmore:
1st 100m Breast 2.12.99
2nd 100m Back 2.14.43
2nd 25m Back 25.47
2nd 50m Breast 58.90
3rd 50m Breast 1.00.36
Vivian Hughes:
1st 100m Free 1.48.56
1st 50m Back 1.06.64
2nd 50m Free 48.60
3rd 25m Back 30.05
6th 25m Breast 38.33
8th 50m Breast 1.26.49
Alan Cameron:
1st 50m Breast 1.06.00
1st 100 Breast 2.26.61
1st 25m Breast 26.69
2nd 25m Fly 28.67
2nd 25m Back 28.20
3rd 25m Free 22.74
Bruce Williamson:
1st 25m Free 13.39
1st 25m Fly 15.61
1st 50m Free 29.83
1st 50m Back 39.22
2nd 50m Fly 36.63
3rd 100m Free 1.10.43