Some were elite athletes in their prime reliving their glory days, like footballers Charlie Yankos, Alex Tobin and Paul Wade. Some achieved fame in fields far removed from sport, like actress and keen tennis player Lorraine Bayley.

Some were a cross between celebrity and sporting talent, like Bev Waugh, mother of cricketing twins Steve and Mark and a formidable tennis and squash player in her own right.

Others achieved fame in one sport only to compete in another, such as Greg Dear, who won three AFL premierships with Hawthorn in the 1980s but entered as a surf lifesaver.

All had one thing in common on Saturday, helping to launch the seventh World Masters Games in Sydney, a nine-day festival featuring more than 28,000 competitors from 95 countries.

Swimmer Daniel Kowalski, a relay gold medallist at the Sydney Olympics in 2000, could not resist the temptation to dive back in the same pool.

Kowalski, 34, had intended merely to watch from the sidelines, but he made a late application to compete in the 800m heats.

Yankos, Tobin and Wade, all former Socceroo captains, were due to make a return to the field with their “Olderoos” team full of colleagues from the 1980s and 90s.

Bayley epitomised the spirit of those with less sporting pedigree.

The 72-year-old, remembered for her roles in The Sullivans, Neighbours, Play School and the movie The Man From Snowy River, took up tennis just three years ago.

She lost 6-0 in her one-set match, but said: “I actually had some games go to deuce, so I’m absolutely over the moon.

“My ideal way of dying would be to drop dead after having just served an ace on the tennis court.

“But not for a while yet.”

Bev Waugh notched a straightforward 3-0 win in her opening match at the Thornleigh squash courts.

In the surf lifesaving competition at Manly, Dear described his surfboat event as “a hell of a lot wetter than football”.

“After the AFL, I was craving to continue striving for success in a team environment,” Dear said.

“It keeps us oldies a bit fitter. You are never too old or too slow to do something. Just have a crack for God’s sake.”

Manly was the venue for the very first gold medal of the Games and it went to a home-town entry.

Susan Mahony, a marathon runner competing in her first surf lifesaving event, won the 2km beach run in the 40-44 age category.

Australian track athlete Holt Hardy won the first men’s gold, dominating the 35-39 age category.

“I’m not a lifesaver,” he said, “but you never know what can happen.”

Though competition began on Saturday, the official opening ceremony and athletes’ march is not until Sunday evening.

Those taking part include Denmark’s Prince Frederik, who will compete in sailing next week.

© AAP 2012

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