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CORAL SPRINGS – Gabriel Wong celebrated his 2020 Florida Senior Games Male Athlete of the Year Award, presented Thursday at the opening day of the Pickleball, competition, by winning his fifth consecutive gold medal in the 75-79 age group.

Wong, from Ponte Vedra Beach, (on left in photo, with sport director Andy Rubenstein), won his first two matches without allowing his opponents a point, in one game matches.  In the final two best-of-three matches, he won both in straight sets.  He defeated Julian Gershaw, of Delray Beach, 11-9, 11-9, to win the gold medal, at the Country Club of Coral Springs.

Last week, Wong earned the gold medal in the Men’s Singles Tennis 70-74 age group.  He has pulled Florida Senior Games double duty in Pickleball and Tennis, since 2017, and has combined to win nine gold medals.

The 2020 Florida Senior Games Female Athlete of the Year, Sandra Garner, of Daytona Beach, was presented with her Award at the Volleyball competition, on Saturday, December 11, at the David Posnack Jewish Community Center.

Michelle Foster and William Wilson, both of Bradenton, each won their second consecutive gold medal.  Foster won the Women’s Singles 60-64 age group gold and Wilson won the 80-84 age group gold.  Wilson won the 75-79 age group gold medal in 2020.  Foster and Wilson were undefeated in three matches of round robin play in their age groups, in one-game matches to 15.

The second of four days of Pickleball continue Friday with all Women’s Doubles Age Groups and the 70 and above Men’s Age Doubles age groups. Over 400 athletes are competing in the Pickleball Championships and over 1,800 athletes, age 50 and over, registered to compete in the 30th Annual Florida Senior Games.

The 2021 Florida Senior Games, presented by Humana, is an annual program of the Florida Sports Foundation, the lead sports promotion and development organization of the state of Florida, in conjunction with the Greater Fort Lauderdale CVB.  For more information about the Florida Senior Games, visit www.floridaseniorgames.com and find more interesting stories by following the Florida Senior Games on Facebook.