Medals master

Michael Epstein won five medals at this month’s Australian Masters Games in Geelong. 28191

By Marc McGowan
EVERGREEN Cockatoo general store owner Michael Epstein is at it again.
The 48-year-old has made a habit of excelling in the sporting realm in recent years and amassed five medals over two sports at this month’s Australian Masters Games in Geelong.
Epstein drew on his under-12 little athletics experience to win gold in the 110m high hurdles, silver in the 400m hurdles and triple jump, and bronze in the 100m.
He and his Victoria Metro team-mates added a bronze medal to his athletics haul.
“I haven’t done it (the Australian Masters Games) before, so it was all pretty exciting,” Epstein said.
“The hard thing was when I had to play a game of footy then the next day warm-up to do athletics.
“After the second game of footy it took literally two hours before I could run … I definitely wouldn’t do the two again – it’s just too hard at my age.”
Epstein loved the atmosphere at the event and particularly enjoyed the opportunity to play on the slick Kardinia Park surface.
“Everyone helps each other out and there’s a really good spirit,” he said.
“It’s amazing seeing some of the old people. There was an 85-year-old doing a 400m and a 74-year-old woman doing the hurdles – it was just amazing.”
And Epstein has his eyes on further success at the seventh World Masters Games in Sydney from 10 to 18 October.
The only thing that could stop the former West Adelaide footballer from representing his country there is the timing of the Australian Masters Football Carnival in Cairns.
Those championships run from 2 to 8 October and Epstein said football was his priority.
“I’m still looking into it at this stage because, unfortunately, the Australian Masters football is in October, too,” he said.
“If I had to make a choice I’ll do football, but I’m definitely looking at this athletics thing.”
Epstein will suit up for Emerald’s Super Rules football team again this year and will coach the under-13 Dandenong Ranges Junior Football League representative side for the second straight year.