Local calisthenics club shines at Pan Pacific Masters Games

GEELONG Calisthenics College (GCC) has returned from the 2024 Pan Pacific Masters Games victorious, securing a medal finish in each of the five team events it competed in.

Under the leadership of coach Donna Argent, a team of 22 competitors, aged between 30 and 64, travelled to the Gold Coast last week to compete against teams from across the country in the 44-49 years age division.

A tough competition in the March event, saw the GCC take home a bronze medal, before the team then went on to win gold in its remaining four events: Rod, Free Exercises, Aesthetics and Revue.

GCC treasurer and calisthenics competitor Debbie Haines said the team had been training hard all year for the event and was thrilled with the results.

“We’re a great team and we’re all great friends,” she said.

While the GCC is approaching its 70th anniversary, its masters team is still in its infancy, only reconvening two years ago to take on the 2022 Pan Pacific Masters Games.

A team of diverse ages and backgrounds, Ms Haines said the outcome was “a lot of fun and friendship” and new members are always welcome to join.

“We have some absolutely brilliant young women in our team – and old women – but all ages are catered for, and our choreography is very clever and caters for all different levels of ability.”

She said this gives everyone a chance to perform.

Ms Haines started calisthenics when she was just three years old and has loved the sport all her life.

“It’s so fun, and the friendship and the family groups and the messages that we’ve had from people in calisthenics from years gone by and other clubs we’ve been involved with, it’s just been so heart-warming.

“The entire Geelong Calisthenics College is a very, very wonderful club and is doing very well across all levels and we’ll resume next February, and we’ll keep doing what we’re doing.”

The Pan Pacific Masters Games are now in their 13th year and bring together athletes from across the country to compete in more than 40 sports.

The only criterion for entry to the Games is a minimum age for each sport, which for the majority is 30 years of age.

Local businesses The Telegraph Hotel and Barwon Traffic Management assisted the GCC with uniform and transportation costs, helping the team attend the event.

For more information, email Donna Argent at [email protected]