ANAHEIM – When Bill Wewer, 92, walked in to the Senior Olympics push-up contest on Saturday, he knew for sure that he was destined for a gold medal.

Wewer, a resident at Anaheim’s Emerald Court senior complex, has been competing in the annual Senior Olympics for years. But after years of playing bocce ball, he decided this year to test his luck against seniors from across Orange and Los Angeles counties in the push-ups event.

The 20th annual Senior Olympics – sporting events for competitors 50 and older and hosted by five cities including Anaheim, Orange and Huntington Beach – ends Sunday after a month of competition.

In Wewer’s push-up event at Anaheim’s Downtown Community Center, it turned out that of the six competitors, the former school principal – in his 32 year of retirement – was by far the eldest and the only competitor in the 85-plus category – the next oldest competitor was Bob Candelaria, of Long Beach, a mere 84.

If Wewer could do just one push-up, he was guaranteed gold in his age group.

But Wewer wasn’t satisfied only being the best of his age. So he got down on the floor and pushed.

His arms began to burn. His face turned bright red. He pushed for more.

In less than two minutes, he had completed 59 push-ups. His nearest competitor in any age group had done just 33.

His 59 earned him the overall gold medal, too.

“My goal was always to do half my age – 46,” Wewer told the other competitors, as he accepted his golds. “Lately during training, I pushed myself to do 50 and then 60.

“I’d hoped to do 60 today, but I just couldn’t quite get there.”

The other competitors applauded Wewer.

“It’s awesome, just tremendous to see what he did,” said Louise Martin, 81, of Leisure World in Seal Beach. “I hope to be doing that when I’m his age.”

While he’d hoped to do more, Wewer said, “I’m very pleased. I feel good with how I did.

“It’s not about the honors for me as much as the self-discipline,” he added. “It’s how I’ve succeeded in life. And I hope I inspire others.”

Contact the writer: 714-704-3769 or ecarpenter@ocregister.com