[ad_1]
Last weekend, she broke her age group’s world record in the 400m freestyle, swimming in 12 minutes and 50 seconds. — beat the previous record holder by nearly four minutes. Brussels competes in age categories from 100 to 104, as categories are determined by year of birth.
She also set a record of 1 minute 52 seconds in the 50m breaststroke and 1 minute 24 seconds in the 50m backstroke.
“It felt really good,” she said from her apartment, where she lives with her rescue cat Mika.
Brussels, who grew up in the Netherlands and was the second oldest of 12 children, was unable to pursue her favorite activities such as swimming, skating and gymnastics. During World War II, in her teens, she spent time caring for her younger siblings.
Her parents withdrew her from school at the age of 14, and her family lived without electricity for more than three years.
“It was pretty tough during the war,” she says.
Ms. Brussel immigrated to Canada with her husband in 1959. Ms. Brussels said that in addition to raising her three children, who are now 70, 72 and 74 years old, she made a living cleaning houses and later became a seamstress. .
In 1982, Brussels retired and with newfound free time, he gradually developed an interest in swimming. She competed in her first contest in 1991.
“I swam a one-lane breaststroke and couldn’t even swim it properly,” she recalled. “I started from scratch.”
She soon fell in love with the sport and began competing at the Canadian Masters level, a competitive swimming class for those 18 years and older. For the past six years, she has been a member of her team at Canada’s White Rock Wave Swim.South Surrey, British Columbia
For more than 30 years, Brussels has competed in numerous competitions in Canada and elsewhere, including the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah. She enjoys the thrill of competing.
“The pool is my happy place,” she said.
She drives herself to swim practice, about 20 minutes from her apartment, twice a week.
“I’m a very independent person,” Brussels said. Her family, including her granddaughter, great-grandson, and four step-grandchildren, often attend swim meets to cheer her on. Her husband died 11 years ago.
When I don’t feel like swimming, I try to force myself into the pool.
“I always feel better when I get out of the pool than when I get in,” she said.
Brussels, who turns 100 in July, believes maintaining an active lifestyle contributes to his longevity. On days I don’t swim, I go for a 45-minute walk.
“I live at the bottom of a hill. I go up slowly and come down fast,” she says, adding that other than wearing hearing aids, she “doesn’t take any medicine or pills.” Ta.
Brussels spends her free time knitting and cross-stitching. She is also a voracious reader and she follows current events.
“I’m very lucky to be able to do all this and have good health,” Brussels said.
Linda Stanley Wilson, 65, president of White Rock Wave and a swimming coach in Brussels, said they must try not to lose to Brussels.
“She’s a very quick, purposeful walker,” Stanley Wilson said, noting that Brussels also insists on carrying a large bag of swimming gear without help. “Betty doesn’t act like she’s 99 years old. She’s so full of life that you forget that’s her age.”
Brussels does not keep any records, so it is currently unknown how many world records he has set. Moreover, the coach said that many of the records set by Brussels in the past few years have since been broken by other players, so it is difficult to judge the numbers.
“World records aren’t that important to Betty,” Stanley Wilson said.
Brussels, whose article was recently published in the Globe and Mail, is a source of motivation for his 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 on our team who are in their 80s who are actively competing, but Betty is the only one who is still competing in her 90s,” Stanley Wilson said. “Betty is our superstar.”
Stanley Wilson holds a PhD in kinesiology and emphasized the importance of staying healthy as you age. Swimming is especially beneficial for people who don’t like other types of exercise.
“Swimming provides a means for people with a variety of 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 stabilize her body before diving.
“That’s basically all she needs,” Stanley Wilson said, adding that Brussels has performed better this season than last season so far. There are usually around 5 participants in the age category from 100 to her 104.
“There’s only a handful of other guys in that age group that have ever done it,” Stanley Wilson said.
“I always say I’m her biggest cheerleader, and everyone is. People are always clapping and cheering for her,” she added.
Brussels said she appreciates the praise, especially when she learns that others are inspired by her.
“Almost every time we meet, someone comes up to me and says, ‘I was thinking of quitting,’ or ‘I thought I was too old to start, but now that I see you, I think I can do it. ’,” she says. “It feels great.”
About a year ago, Brussels caught the eye of filmmaker Hannah Walsh, who was a competitive swimmer in college. Walsh, 27, was watching the results of the Masters swimming competition when she realized Brussels’ age. she was surprised.
“I thought, ‘Wait, this is crazy,'” Walsh recalled. She is currently making a documentary film about Brussels with her partner Emma Puchniak.
“We need more stories about people like Betty,” Walsh said. “She is an inspiration.”
Mr. Brussels is often asked about the secret to his long life.
“I’m a happy person. I think that’s one of the secrets,” she said.
Another secret is to keep doing something.
She plans to follow her own advice and swim competitively for as long as she can.
“I never felt special, but now I’m starting to feel a little bit proud of myself,” she said.
[ad_2]
Source link
