DIDSBURY - Resident Teena Wilks recently came home with an impressive medal haul from the 2019 55 plus Alberta Summer Games held in Medicine Hat.
The owner of Top Note Music in Didsbury ended with golds in the 100 metre individual medley and 50 metre breaststroke, and silvers in the 100 metre breaststroke and 100 metre backstroke.
"I was very surprised," said Wilks. "There were some fast swimmers out there."
Wilks said it was an amazing experience competing at the 55 plus games.
"The committee was amazing," she said. "Every detail was taken care of and it was great to meet folks from all over the province ready to swim their best. Our oldest swimmer in the water was FAST and he was 89 years old.
"The 55 plus games gives everyone a chance to compete in sports like contract bridge, cribbage, cycling, floor curling, floor shuttleboard, golf, bocce, horseshoes and more. It's a great way to enjoy life."
Wilks just started swimming last year at the Masters level. She said she's come a long way.
"I swam terribly when I started," she said. "I could not dive or get anything right."
As her medal haul shows, Wilks has made great strides in the pool. She credits her son Wesley, a competitive swimmer, with inspiring her to take up swimming.
"He has a great attitude towards swimming and is a great coach," she said. "He understands how to slowly develop to win the race."
