Last weekend, she broke the world record in her age category in the 400 meter freestyle – she swam it in 12 minutes 50 seconds. – beating the previous record holder by almost four minutes. Brussels competes in the age category of 100 to 104 years, as the categorization is determined by year of birth.
She also set a record in the 50 meter breaststroke, in 1 minute 52 seconds, and the 50 meter backstroke, in 1 minute 24 seconds.
“I felt so good,” she said from her apartment, where she lives with her rescued cat, Mika.
Growing up in the Netherlands, Brussel – the second oldest of 12 children – was unable to do activities she loved like swimming, skating and gymnastics. She was a teenager during World War II and spent her time caring for her younger siblings.
Her parents took her out of school when she was 14, and the family lived without electricity for more than three years.
“It was quite a challenge during the war,” she said.
Brussel immigrated to Canada with her husband in 1959. In addition to raising their three children – now ages 70, 72 and 74 – Brussels cleaned house for a living and later became a seamstress.
In 1982, Brussel retired and, thanks to her new free time, she gradually took up swimming. She participated in her first competition in 1991.
“I swam breaststroke in one lane and I didn’t even do it correctly,” she recalls. “I started from scratch.”
Soon, she was hooked on the sport and began competing at the Canadian Masters level, a competitive swimming class for people over 18 years old. For the past six years, she has been a member of the White Rock Wave Swim Team in South Surrey, British Columbia.
For over 30 years, Brussels has participated in numerous competitions in Canada and elsewhere, including the World Senior Huntsman Games in St. George, Utah. She enjoys the thrill of competition.
“The pool is my happy place,” she said.
She drives herself to her swim practice, about 20 minutes from her apartment, twice a week.
“I’m a very independent person,” said Brussel, whose family — including her granddaughter, great-granddaughter and four step-grandchildren — often attend her swim meets to cheer her on. Her husband died 11 years ago.
When she doesn’t feel like swimming, she still forces herself to get in the pool.
“I always feel better when I get out of the pool than when I get in,” she said.
Brussels – which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in July – believes that maintaining an active lifestyle has contributed to its longevity. On days she doesn’t swim, she goes for a 45-minute walk.
“I live at the foot of a hill. I go up slowly and I go down fast,” she said, adding that aside from wearing a hearing aid, “I don’t take any medicine, any pills.”
Brussels spends its free time knitting and cross-stitching. She is also a voracious reader and follows the news.
“I’m very lucky to be able to do all this and I’m in good health,” Brussels said.
Linda Stanley Wilson, 65, president of White Rock Wave and Brussels’ swimming coach, said she had to work to keep up with Brussels.
“She walks very fast with purpose,” Stanley Wilson said, noting that Brussels also insists on lugging her large bag of swimming equipment around without help. “Betty doesn’t act like a 99-year-old woman. She is full of life and we forget her age.
Brussels doesn’t know exactly how many world records it has set at this point because it doesn’t keep track of them. Additionally, his coach said, it’s difficult to determine that number because many of the records Brussels set in previous years have since been broken by others.
“World records aren’t that important to Betty,” Stanley Wilson said.
Brussels – whose story was recently told in the Globe and Mail – is a source of motivation for her White Rock Wave teammates, Stanley Wilson said. The team has 80 people, ranging in age from 23 to 99 years old.
“We have several swimmers in their 80s on our team who are actively competing with us, but Betty is the only 90-year-old still competing,” Stanley Wilson said. “Betty is our superstar.”
Stanley Wilson has a doctorate in kinesiology and has emphasized the importance of staying fit as you age. Swimming is especially beneficial for those who have difficulty doing other types of exercise.
“Swimming provides a way for people with many physical challenges to succeed,” she said.
At the start of each race, Brussels dives into the pool from a diving block. She usually holds Stanley Wilson’s hand to steady herself before diving.
“That’s basically the only help they need,” Stanley Wilson said, adding that Brussels has been performing better so far this season than last. In the 100-104 age category, there are usually around five competitors.
“There are only a handful of other people in this age group who have already made their mark,” Stanley Wilson said.
“I always say I’m his biggest cheerleader, but everyone is. People always applaud and encourage him,” she added.
Brussels appreciates the praise, she said, especially when she learns that others are inspired by her.
“Almost every meet, someone comes up to me and says, ‘I was ready to quit,’ or ‘I thought I was too old to start and now I see you and I think I can. do,’” she said. “It’s a wonderful feeling.”
About a year ago, Brussels caught the attention of filmmaker Hannah Walsh, who swam competitively in college. Walsh, 27, was watching some results from a masters swimming competition when she noticed Brussels’ age. She was stunned.
“I thought, ‘Wait, this is crazy,'” recalls Walsh, who is currently producing a documentary film about Brussels with his partner Emma Puchniak.
“There need to be more stories about people like Betty,” Walsh said. “She is an inspiration.”
People often ask Brussels for its secret to a long life.
“I’m a happy person; I think that’s one of the secrets,” she said.
Another secret: “Keep doing things. »
She is following her own advice and will swim competitively for as long as she can.
“I never really felt special, but now I’m starting to feel a little proud of myself,” she said.
