Canyon Laker wins gold at Pasadena Senior Games

Canyon Lake resident Paul Parque, 73, earned a gold medal at the Pasadena Senior Games by doing an impressive 66 military-style push-ups to beat out his competitors in the 70 to 74 age group. Photo provided by Paul Parque

Canyon Laker Paul Parque earned a gold medal on June 24 at the Pasadena Senior Games, an athletic competition event for men and women age 50

and older. The seventy-three-year-old did an impressive 66 military-style push-ups to beat out his competitors in the 70 to 74 age group.

Push-ups have been a part of Paul’s workout routine for the past 50 years. Paul’s high school shot put coach encouraged him to do push-ups to give him more strength, which contributed to him being a shot put champion for three consecutive years. That encouraged him to continue doing push-ups throughout his adult life.

“Working out as I got older improved my health, made me stronger and enabled me to do things I never thought I could do,” Paul said.

To prepare for the Senior Games, Paul trained three days a week at LA Fitness in Lake Elsinore. His routine consisted of one to two miles on the treadmill, weight training and 100 daily push-ups.

Working out is a family activity for Paul and his wife Evelyn. The couple works out at the gym three to four days a week. Photo provided by Paul Parque

This year was Paul’s first time participating in the Senior Games. He said he was encouraged to enter after reading an article The Friday Flyer featured last year on 72-year-old Canyon Lake resident Jim Doherty, who won a gold medal in the same category Paul entered this year.

“Reading the article about Jim gave me the incentive to enter the Senior Games,” Paul said. Paul postponed a planned trip so that he could participate this year.

Working out is a family activity for Paul and his wife Evelyn. Evelyn, a former 1986 Huntington Beach Muscle Class winner, still works out at the gym three to four days a week. Paul said he may enter the competition again next year.