FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | SEPTEMBER 2025 35
What started as a spark of interest 25 years
ago has blossomed into an incredible success
story. Peter Antoine happened to see an early
morning weightlifting demonstration on TV.
He was so inspired that he taught himself to
lift weights and then began competing and
winning. After learning more about workout
consistency and injury prevention, he was
able to help and advise others. Since moving
to Four Seasons 20 years ago, he has taught
and encouraged many residents.
Pete accumulated about 55 gold medals
from various events over the years. In May
this year, Pete won another gold medal in
Pasadena. This time, he didn't just display
the medal — he qualified for the nationals.
In 1985, the NSGA added weightlifting to
its schedule of competitive events for the
first time. Pete registered for the Aug. 2-3,
2025, National Senior Games in Des Moines,
Iowa. A week after signing up for all the
weightlifting events, he was notified that he
had been nominated by the Pasadena Senior
Olympics to carry the California flag during
the opening ceremonies parade on July 29,
alongside 650 other California athletes.
The men's competition took place on Aug.
2 at a large recreation center in Des Moines.
Each competitor was given three lifts in
the bench press, squat, and deadlift. Three
judges evaluated the contestants and were
also responsible for giving "commands." If a
command was not perfectly followed, a red
flag was raised. If the lift was successful, a
white flag was displayed. Pete had been
training with his friend Al Pina, also a Four
Seasons resident, focusing on the squat and
deadlift, as he had never trained for those
events before. They practiced several times
a week at the gym at The Courts. And it paid
off. After all the men had competed, Pete
was awarded the Gold Medal in the Master
Class at 80 years old, bench-pressing an
astonishing 245 pounds! Congratulations,
Pete!
The surprising part of this story, however,
is what Pete's daughter said when she called
to congratulate him. A seven-year-old boy
was watching the event on YouTube and told
his daughter, "When I grow up, I want to be
just like him!" That's really what it's all about
— being an inspiration and a blessing to
others. ~ Eileen Gilbert-Antoine
Four Seasons Champion Returns From The
National Senior Games
