Veteran Murray Taylor was one of six Dunedin athletes who won gold medals at the South Island Masters Games in Timaru last week.
Taylor (71), a Mosgiel real estate agent, won gold medals in the 100m indoor rowing (19.2sec), 5km walk (43min) and 7.5km cross-country (55min) in the men's aged 70-74 grade.
He added bronze medals in the 2000m indoor rowing and the indoor triathlon.
Barbara White (68) won gold medals in the women's aged 65-69 road walks - 20km (2hr 40min) and 10km (1hr 13min 14sec).
The 21km was a personal best time by 5min.
It has been an outstanding year for both athletes who also won gold medals at the New Zealand Masters Games in Dunedin last February.
Taylor won his gold medals in the 5km and 10km walks and White in the 21km and 5km walks.
Tahuna Intermediate School deputy principal Keith Hutton won five gold medals in the men's aged 55-59 grade in the 100m, hammer throw, high jump, javelin and shot put in track and field.
Ultra-marathon runner Jim Kerse won three gold medals - 500m, 1000m and 2000m - in the men's aged over 60 kayaking.
Andrea Elvines won the women's aged 40-44 1500m open water swim and Maurice Vaughan the men's aged 50-54 21km marathon walk in 2hr 29min 39sec.
Taylor has gained a new lease of life since first entering the New Zealand Masters Games at Dunedin a decade ago.
"I'm fitter now than when I was aged 60," he said.
He works hard at his fitness and spends three days each week at the Olympic gymnasium at Mosgiel, three days walking and another day in the swimming pool.
Taylor tried the indoor triathlon for the first time and found it one of the hardest events he had ever contested.
"You spend 10 minutes on the rowing rowing machines, have a 1min rest and then spend 10min on the exercycle," Taylor said.
"After another minute's rest, you complete the journey with 10min on the treadmill."
White emigrated from England in 1961 and spent the next 26 years in Oamaru before coming to Dunedin in 1987.
"I've been to every New Zealand Masters Games in Dunedin and a few in Wanganui," White said.
She intends to compete at Wanganui next February.
White trains by walking around Dunedin streets, including steep uphill stretches on Baldwin St, Somerville St and Arthurs Walk steps.
Marinus Boon was Otago's other outstanding competitor at Timaru and broke three gold medals in the men's aged 80-84 grade indoor rowing.
These came in the 100m (18.3sec), 500m (1min 40.6sec) and 1000m (3min 50.7sec).
