Rob Stark has launched a new chapter of his athletic career and he has a whole bunch of gold medals to show for it.
The longtime Education Assistant at General Currie Elementary School and volunteer community coach has returned from the recent 55+ BC Games in Kelowna with five gold medals.
Competing in the 55-59 age group, the 57-year-old Stark captured the long jump, triple jump, 50 and 100 metre events. All were in new personal best performances. He was also part of the winning 4x100 relay team.
He had made his debut at the Games a year earlier in Cranbrook where he won the same events and also captured the high jump, along with a silver in the javelin.
Stark served as coach with Richmond Girls Soccer for about 20 years, initially taking his daughter through the program then continuing on with other teams. He also has been a longtime volunteer with the General Currie track and field program each spring.
He kept active playing adult soccer and ball hockey leagues but once that was over he was looking for a new challenge.
“I thought after that team stuff, what am I going to do with myself?” reflected Stark. “My dad went to the Games many years ago in badminton and I thought I was going to that. It was about four years ago I decided to get back into competitive shape. I was kind of a fit guy already but to compete I needed to do more.”
Stark joined Shift and Lift Fitness for weight training then began running regularly on Minoru Park’s Clement Track each spring.
All the success has him thinking about expanding his schedule in 2020. There is a World Masters Games in Toronto and Kamloops is hosting the +55 Canada Games. Regardless, he knows he will be back at the B.C. Games which happen to be taking place in Richmond.
“My wife and sister watched me compete in Kelowna and now I could have my entire family and (General Currie) students) cheering me on next year,” laughed Stark. “I’m a competitive kind of guy that is always looking for opportunities. I just try and do my best, not knowing what you are going to get.”
