Injecting youth into Masters Games

Trampoline coach Amy Baldacchino, 20, is pictured third from the right. Picture by Rebecca Grunwell

Youth is not a word associated with the New Zealand Masters Games but there will be plenty of the wrinkle and grey hair-free brigade among the 5000 competitors at the 30th anniversary edition in Whanganui.

This will include Gisborne trampolinist/gymnast Amy Baldacchino, who, at 20 years of age, will be the youngest athlete at the Games that run from February 1 to 10.

Baldacchino, a Gisborne Trampoline Club coach, was convinced to register for the Games by coaches and clubmates.

She will be part of a six-strong Gisborne crew taking on the gymsports events.

“Gymnastics is a sport you do when you’re younger,” said Baldacchino.

“Not many people in it (competition-wise) are older so in masters gymnastics you can enter from when you’re 20.

“I’m hoping there are some other competitors around my age — I’d like to make some new friends — but from what they’ve told me, it’s more around the 30-plus age,” she said.

The lowest age a competitor can be at the Games is defined by each sport.

Athletes as young as 18 can take part in ice figure skating, for example, while the miminum age in netball is 30.

Baldacchino was keen to get involved due to her love of gymnastics and trampolining in which she competed for 13 years and is now a coach.

“I started Playgym when I was three and loved it. I never quit and stuck at it right through to the end of high school,” she said.

“I loved learning all the tricks and being able to show off all the flips, back tucks and things like that.

“There are some good party tricks you learn there.”

The former Gisborne Girls’ High School student is preparing to study primary school teaching and still competes in tumbling.

Meanwhile, she is looking forward to competing and watching some football at the Games which started in 1989 with 1500 entrants across 29 sports, grew to as much as 8000 in 67 sports and this year will feature around 5000 from 20 countries in nearly 50 sports ranging from archery to hockey to yachting.

“I love competing and I don’t want to give it up,” said Baldacchino.

“I’m really excited about it. It’s good to be back training.” — Story by Whanganui Chronicle and Gisborne Herald