OH WHAT A FEELING! 89-year-old achieves hat-trick of gold medals

The recent Australian Masters Games in Canberra proved to be a momentous occasion for Gunnedah senior citizen Ellen Mitchell and her son Mark.

The 89-year-old Ellen won three gold medals from three events in the over 70 age group, while Mark won a silver and a bronze among his six events in the 50-54 age group.

Ellen recorded a time of 33.67 seconds in the 60m sprint final and a time of 20.84 minutes in the 1500m walk, and she achieved a throw of 3.08 metres in the shotput.

“Oh what a feeling. Amazing,” Ellen said afterwards.

Mark earned silver in throws pentathlon and bronze in the hammer throw, and he also competed in shotput, weight, discus and javelin.

Mark said he wasn’t too keen on running or walking, as he quipped that he was keen to throw his weight around.

It was the first time either Ellen or Mark competed in the Australian Masters Games, which has been held in each odd-numbered year since 1987 while hosts have included Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Geelong, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle and Perth.

This year’s event involved competitors from New Zealand, India, South Africa and Spain, as well as Australia.

Even though the Mitchells didn’t know anyone at the Australian Masters Games, Ellen received plenty of support and encouragement from a cheer squad involving about 12 Canberrans wearing Hawaiian shirts.

“I’m flattered that they wanted to know what vitamins I was taking, since I’m 89,” Ellen said with a laugh.

Other fans were distinct with their shirts featuring the words “peas in a pod”.

As for how Ellen and Mark came to compete in the Australian Masters Games, Mark said he was interested to give it a go and that he invited other family members to do likewise while only his mum took up the offer.

“I said ‘I’d love to do this, and you should do it too’,” he said.

“We had to set the standard for others to follow.

“Mum always likes doing new things.”

Mark joked that his mum had to chase her other sons around, and that this helped her with her running.

With a smile, Ellen said Mark persuaded her to take part in the Australian Masters Games because “he’s a convincer”, while rounding up cows and running to school during her childhood had come in handy.

Ellen’s training involved walking, running and shotput at Wolseley Park, with the ultimate three-time gold medal winner saying she didn’t know all of the intricacies involved with walking and running.

Ellen said with a laugh, “I wonder if others thought ‘what’s this old girl doing walking and running around Wolseley?'”

Aside from winning medals, Ellen and Mark said it was wonderful to see how supportive everyone was.

“Everyone was lovely,” Ellen said.

Mark said “the people you meet are amazing” and that everyone liked to see others succeed.

As for whether the Mitchells intend to compete in the next Australian Masters Games – in 2027 – Mark said he’d “love to take her there again” while Ellen said “it depends if he’s brave enough to take his mother by the hand, so to speak”.