INNISFAIL – A love of cycling took an Innisfail-area potato farmer from the fields to the podium.
John Buyks, a 65-year-old local farmer, recently won two gold medals at the Canada 55+ Games held from Aug. 21 to 24 in St. John, N.B.
It was his first time participating in the Canada 55+ Games.
“I won the two gold medals in my age group but also I was the fastest in both races overall,” said Buyks, referring to a pair of cycling events, the individual time trial and the road race. “In the last two kilometres, there were three of us together with a couple of younger guys, but I outrode them in the last two kilometres (to win).”
Innisfail also had two other participants in the 55 + games this year. Christine and Ian Hector competed in cycling and tennis respectively. Christine won a silver medal in her age group and Ian won gold in men’s doubles.
Buyks said he qualified for the Canada 55+ Games at last year's Alberta 55+ Games, also winning both events at the provincial level.
“In the individual timed trial you’re on your own; everybody starts one minute apart,” he said. “The road race is a little different. It’s also cycling, but everybody starts at the same time. It’s a shotgun start.”
At the Canada 55+ Games, the road race was just over 20 kilometres, while the individual time trial was 10 kilometres.
About 2,200 participants from across the country competed in about 25 different sports, including golf, ice hockey, curling, cycling, cribbage, pickle ball, darts, lawn bowling and track and field.
“It’s a very big event and for St. John, it was the biggest event they ever organized,” he added.
Buyks said he began cycling seriously about five or six years ago.
“My son took over the farm and that gave me a little more time to start doing some other things,” he said. “I always wanted to cycle and I said let’s give this a shot.”
He continues to train intensely every day for one hour.
“I trained a lot. Not only on the road but also in the winter I do indoor training,” explained Buyks, noting cycling is a sport he enjoys.
“It’s easy on the joints and it’s something that everybody can do,” he said. “The goal of the Canada 55+ Games is for people like myself and everybody 55 years and over to stay active.
“I’d like to keep doing this as long as I can, to stay healthy and active,” Buyks concluded.
