Nine swimmers from Brisbane LGBTIQ team Aqualicious are on the Gold Coast preparing to compete at the eleventh Pan Pacific Masters Games.
Pan Pacific Masters
More than 15,000 athletes from over 30 countries are converging on the coast to compete in more than 40 sports from tomorrow until November 11.
Aqualicious president Fernando Claro (pictured) will be among the athletes competing in the biennial event.
“I’ve competed in the Pan Pacs three times before, they’re incredible,” he said.
“In the pool it’s a surreal scenario. Everyone seems to be buzzing, having a great time swimming and catching up with old friends and making a few new ones.
“I hope to improve my times. I’ve been competing in Masters Australia since 2013 when I rediscovered my love for swimming.”
Earlier this month, four swimmers from Aqualicious celebrated breaking a Queensland record at a swim meet closer to home.
Claro said swimmers Dermuid McCabe, Robert de Roos, Raul Colorado and Robert Finean broke the state record for the men’s 4x200m relay (160-199 category) at a 25m swim meet at the University of Queensland on October 13.
The event was hosted University of Queensland Masters Swimming and open to Australian Masters swimmers.
“I’m so proud of the club’s achievement, it was great to see such a fantastic result at a Masters competition,” Claro said.
“It really shows our commitment to promote healthy and active lives in the LGBTIQ community, and be a valued part of the broader Queensland community.”
Swim team welcomes new members
Aqualicious is Brisbane’s Masters swim team open to friends and members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.
The team welcomes new members of all age and experience levels to their sessions, held three days a week in Spring Hill.
“At its heart, our club is about fun and fitness and we welcome swimmers of all ages and experience levels to our inclusive team,” Claro said.
“We encourage anyone thinking of joining the group to come along to a few of our sessions to try it out.”
In August, four Aqualicious members travelled to Paris to compete in the Gay Games, and a contingent from the team marched in the 40th anniversary Sydney Mardi Gras parade earlier this year.
For more information about Aqualicious, visit the website or Facebook page here.
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