Chuck Wools

Chuck began Masters Swimming in 1982 and won his first medal at the BC Summer Games in Cranbrook, where he finished 1st in the 60 Plus Division. This started a remarkable run of medal winning performances in the pool that was only ended with his passing in 2002.
Chuck competed in the BC Senior’s Games, the BC Summer/Winter Games, the BC Master’s Swim Meets, Provincial Master’s Championships, National Master’s Championships, International Master’s Championships, as well as meets in Alberta and Washington and Idaho.

Chuck competed primarily in the breaststroke, backstroke and freestyle and participated in individual and team medleys and relay teams.

In 15 BC Senior’s Games, from 1988 to 2002, Chuck won 27 Gold, 32 Silver, and 17 Bronze Medals. In the 1996 Games in Kamloops, he set a Games record in the 100-meter individual medley. In competing in the BC Master’s Senior Championships, he won 29 Gold, 12 Silver, and 2 Bronze. He set Provincial records in the 1991 meet in Victoria and the 500-meter freestyle and the 100-meter individual medley. At the Provincial Master’s Championships from 1991 to 2002, he won 35 Gold, 25 Silver and 1 Bronze. At the Nationals from 1993 to 2002, he won 14 Gold, 10 Silver and 2 Bronze. Chuck did not win any medals at the World Master’s Championships, but set Provincial records in the 1500-meter breaststroke and the 800-meter freestyle in 1994 in Montreal.

Chuck was also a force to be reckoned with in the pool and other major events he entered. Chuck’s success in the pool is remarkable, all the more extraordinary in that it occurred when he was over 60 years of age.