Terry socks it to them

By Glen Atwell
NOT even a badly strained groin could prevent Terry Baldwin from competing in the sport he loves.
The veteran masters athlete, who works at Pakenham Discounts, recently returned from the national championships in Canberra with a hoard of medals, but was a little worse for wear.
“I think I might need a hernia operation,” Terry laughed.
“I carried the injury into the event, but powered through and picked up four gold medals.”
Terry has been nicknamed ‘Socks’ by his fellow athletes because he always wears long socks when he competes.
“I wear long yellow football socks when I compete, especially in the hurdles,” he said.
“They go with my yellow spikes, I guess it is a bit of a superstition.”
Whatever it is, luck was on Socks’ side at the games.
Terry won gold in the 110metre and 400metre hurdles, pole vault and javelin.
He picked up a silver medal in the relay.
Socks said just like groin muscle, his favourite yellow socks have seen better days.
“They have a few holes and my toes are starting to poke through,” he said.
“But I haven’t lost a hurdles race for 13 years, so I guess that is understandable.”
Terry said he was responsible for bringing Cardinia Shire mayor Bill Ronald out of athletic retirement and back into the masters competition.
“Bill got back into it and won the high jump gold medal in Canberra.
“We’re all mates, we have a whole team that go to the nationals and have a great time together,” Socks said.
Terry was given another thrill last Monday, when his wife Emma gave birth to the couple’s first child, Tyler.
“It’s been a very exciting few weeks, ” Socks said.