The Alaska International Senior Games (AISG) were a success for nine Yukon athletes who made the trip to Fairbanks to compete in the week-long event from Aug. 7-16.

The AISG are the official Alaska state event of the National Senior Game, which is a national organization of athletes aged 50 and over. Every August, the AISG are held and athletes from across the U.S. and several other countries come to participate.

There were 21 sports in the Games and the ones the Yukon athletes competed in, they wracked up an impressive medal haul.

Track and field athlete Thomas Parlee earned himself three medals in Alaska. He won gold in his category, 70-74, in shot put, javelin, discus and hopped to silver in the long jump.

Parlee was modest when talking about his medals saying he did "pretty good." Throughout this year, he has been practising the throwing events and said it was nice to get some competition at the Games because the opportunity doesn't always present itself in Whitehorse.

He said there was some friendly competition with the other athletes even though they were not in the same category.

The track events finished early on during the AISG so Parlee could not stay and cheer his fellow Yukoners on.

"It's always fun and everyone has great team spirit," said Parlee. "I had a good time in Alaska, and it would have been nice to stay and cheer on the Yukon."

Dual sport athlete Brenda Dion picked up seven medals in pickleball and track and field. She said the medal count can be deceiving because at senior games the numbers are low in some categories.

Competing in the 60-64 class in all her competitions, she earned a gold medal in pickleball singles – the first time she said she has tried it.

She teamed up with fellow Yukoner Joanne Love and the pair won silver in the doubles events. In mixed doubles, she teamed up with fellow dual-sport athlete Bryan Craven and the duo earned bronze.

On the track, Dion earned shot put gold and silver in javelin.

"My favourite event track and field is javelin," said Dion. "I didn't throw very well. I had my best throw in shot put, which I hadn't done in a while."

She also proved she could jump, topping the standing long jump and long jump events. Her long jump distance, 2.95 metres, outclassed most of the competitors regardless of age division.

Craven's medal with Dion wasn't his only pickleball medal. He and Ian Love joined together to win the 65-69 double tournament.

When he turned to the ice for co-ed hockey, Craven earned his third medal of the Games taking home bronze.

Ian and Joanne Love partnered for the mixed doubles and won silver together.

Yukon athletes also medalled in the five-kilometre road race. Dennis and Sheila Senger both won their category, 70-74.

Dion, who is the Yukon representative for the Canada 55-Plus Games, said there is already talk about going back to Alaska next year.

The AISG will be held before the Canada 55-Plus Games next year, and Dion agreed it is a good benchmark for the Yukon athletes to compete in Alaska.

"There is no qualifying for the Yukon athletes for the Canada 55-Plus Games," said Dion. "The AISG is a good test before the Games. We are still competitive with the other jurisdictions."

Ramping up the difficulty at the AISG next year will be the upcoming National Senior Games in Utah. Since the Alaska Games are a qualifier for American athletes, Dion expects the AISG to be competitive.

The 2020 Canada 55-Plus Games will be held in Kamloops, B.C. – Whitehorse just missed out on the opportunity to host. Dion expects the Yukon to have 200 athletes competing.

At the 2018 Games in Saint John, N.B., the Yukon had 160 athletes. Dion said pickleball and golf are the sports with the most athletes.

Also exciting for the Games in Kamloops is that women's hockey and women's and men's soccer have been added and Dion said the Yukon is looking to submit teams for those sports.

"What's good is it's women's soccer is seven players," said Dion. "We can probably find enough to play."

Dragon boat racing will also be added to the Kamloops sports roster, and Dion said the Yukon will be looking to register a team.