Gymnastics has been a constant in Tom Satorie's life.
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Following in the footsteps of his two older sisters, he took up the sport as a 4 year old growing up in Omaha in the United States and continued to compete when he moved to Australia 15 years ago.
After competing in what he thought would be his final competition in Geelong, Victoria, 10 years ago, Satorie gave away gymnastics to focus on his family and career.
That is, until this year. In October Satorie proved he still has what it takes to compete at a high level with the now 57 year old winning seven medals at the 2019 Australian Masters Games in Adelaide.
"They say 'if you don't use it, you lose it'," he said. "I thank my lucky stars that I still have strength and flexibility.
"The opportunity to compete at the Masters Games came up and I thought I should take advantage in being fortunate to still be able to do this."
Satorie, who lives in Port Stephens and trains in Newcastle, competed at a high level and judged gymnastics competitions in the United States for 27 years, even going to college on a gymnastics scholarship.
He continued coaching, competing and judging competitions when he moved to Australia.
"Gymnastics is my passion," he said. "It's quite an exhilarating experience to be on an apparatus."
Satorie learned of the masters games two months before it was staged in Adelaide.
Deciding he would go for it he began training. He trains at the Hunter Sports Centre at Glendale, which is home to a full gymnastics centre, twice a week.
Satorie joked: "I get some funny looks from the 20 year olds".
In Adelaide Games, staged October 5-12, Satorie won five bronze and two silver medals after competing in the floor, pommel, rings, vault, high bar and all-round events. He claimed silver in the high bar and parallel bar events.
"I was really really pleased with that," he said. "I only began preparing for it two months before. To do so well in each event is really pleasing."
Satorie said he would continue training and hoped to compete at an international masters games in New Zealand of Japan in the future.