They came, they saw, they conquered. New Zealand athletes have won at least 19 medals in the pool, 12 in track in field and four in cycling at Gay Games Cologne, a total of 35 medals. In the pool Berend Westera's bags will be filled with gold when he returns to the county. The Team Auckland Masters Swimming member has been our most successful athlete in Cologne, winning five individual gold medals. They have come in the 65-69 age range, in 50, 100 and 200 metre backstroke, as well as 50 and 100 metre freestyle. Ron Judd won five individual medals and three team medals The team's founderRon Judd has added to the pile of individual medals he's won in his swimming career, raking in one gold and four silvers. The gold medal came in the 50 metre butterfly, while the silvers are for 50, 100 and 200 metre freestyle and 100 metre butterfly. It's been no easy feat for the pair - who are both in their late 60s and train like workhorses week in week out. They've also picked up three more medals with the help of their teammates in the team medley events. Westera and Judd teamed up with Edward Jenner and Moana Nepia to take gold in the senior 4x100 medley, where the combined ages have to add up to between 240 and 279. They picked up another gold in the 4x50 individual medley with Jenner and David Frost, and swam to silver with Alberto Bonini andKevin Hudson in the 4x50 freestyle. Other individual swimmers to reach the podium in Cologne are Cynthia Borne, who has three bronze medals in the 45-49 age group for the 400, 800 and 1,500 metre freestyle. Jenner added to his two team golds with a bronze in the (60-64) 100 metre individual breaststroke, while Bonini nabbed silver in the (55-59) 50 metre freestyle. Wellington Asia Pacific Outgames organising committee member Hamish Allardice will be able to return to the capital with a grin on his face and a bronze medal around his neck, after coming third in his age-group 400 metre freestyle. Track and field Double gold medallist Don Barclay Not to be outdone by the swimmers, the New Zealand track and field team has also put in a stunning performance in Cologne. Runner David Matulovich has been a stand-out, winning four medals in the 40-44 age group. His two golds came in the 1,500 metres and 5,000 metres, while he won silver in the 5,000 metre race walk and bronze in the 3,000 metre steeplechase. Another amazing effort has reaped gold for Anthony Lymburn, who sprinted to gold in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 400 metres in the 60-64 age range. Michael Small won silver in the 5,000 metre race walk for those aged 50-54. Wellington 57-year-oldDon Barclay is surely the hardened Kiwi battler story of the games, coming back from breaking his wrist in October to win gold medals in his age range in discus and shot put. The New Zealand Aids Foundation staff member far outclassed his competition, throwing almost two and a half metres further than the silver winner in the discus - and nearly one and a half metres further in the shot put. Auckland's Moana Nepia has had an incredibly busy games. Not satisfied with competing in the pool, he also found time to win silver medals in the shot put and discus in the 50-54 age group. Cycling Mark Forder in action Auckland cyclist Mark Forder is another New Zealander who will return with a bag laden down with medals - he rode his way to four. His two golds came in the criterium and as part of a mixed-nation team in the men's team time trial. Forder won silvers in the individual time trial and the road race. To all the medal winners and beyond that, all our Cologne competitors, congratulations from the crew at GayNZ.com! Bring on the Wellington AsiaPacific Outgames!! Check out a brief vid of our games team at the opening ceremony below ... Jacqui Stanford - 7th August 2010