“When I’m swimming, I don’t think about anything. “I just count the laps, so I know how many I have left,” he says. Betty Brusselthe woman who, at her 100 yearsshowed that the vitality and the longevity They have no expiration date. “I don’t feel like I’m my age, except when I’m very tired. But most of the time I don’t feel old.” he adds.
Brussel is an exceptional woman for many other reasons. In January of this year, a few months before celebrating his centenary, he broke three world records in swimming in the category of 100 to 104 years. He completed the 400 meters freestyle in 12 minutes and 50.3 seconds, and surpassed the previous mark by almost four minutes; recorded 1 minute and 24.91 seconds in the 50 meters backstroke; and clocked 1 minute and 56.22 seconds in the 50 meter breaststrokeand set a new benchmark in the category.
With a simple training Two days a week at the pool at the local White Rock Wave Swim Club, Betty has a secret: consistency is more important than intensity. “I always try to find a pace I can maintain, and on the last lap I give it everything I have,” explains Betty.
His connection with swimming began in the Amsterdam canals during his childhood and, since then, water became a refuge and a source of strength. Swimming even saved her from the sadness of her husband’s death and allowed her to move forward with her family. three children. “I always go back to swimming, no matter what. “I forget all my worries and I always feel better,” he said in an interview with The Guardian.
Just like Tim Minnickthe oldest coach In the world of fitness, Betty inspires thousands with her message that age is not a barrier to achieving new goals. Her story is a testament to perseverance and a call to redefine what it means to grow old.
Betty Brussel was born on July 28, 1924, in Amsterdamand is the second of twelve siblings in a family that would soon learn to face difficulties. His childhood was marked by the hard years of Second World Wara period that shaped his resilient character. “They were not easy years,” he recalled in an interview with CBC.
“My parents took me out of school to help take care of my younger siblings. We had to make sure we had enough food. That was our life and we didn’t know how to do anything better.” But, even in the most painful moments, Betty discovered for the first time her love for swimming in the waters of the canals of his hometown.
“They were building a bridge over the canal and they poured sand on the bottom. So my brothers and I taught each other how to swim,” he told The Guardian. Although swimming was just a game then, these moments defined his relationship with water, a place that would later become his refuge.
In 1959, together with her husband Gerrit, Betty emigrated to Canadaand settled in Grand Forks, a small town in British Columbia. There, while Gerrit worked as a carpenter, Betty found employment as a seamstress and together they raised their three children. “We were a team. “We always found a way to get ahead,” shared.
Gerrit’s death deeply marked the life of Betty, who He found a way to cope with the loss in swimming. ““It was difficult, but the water helped me heal,” he confessed. From that moment on, the pool became a space of consolation and emotional renewal: “I always go back to swimming, no matter what happens. “It’s what keeps me going,” he said.
Thus, swimming stopped being just a recreational activity and became an essential part of his life. With constant dedication, but without excesses, Betty developed a routine that, years later, would lead her to break world records.
At 100 years old, Brussel showed that you don’t need a grueling regimen to achieve greatness. His routine is limited to two days a week in the pool at the White Rock Wave Swim Club, where he trains without specific exercises or additional sessions. This minimalist approach contrasts with the intensive training of younger swimmers. “What can I say? “I’m a little lazy.”he confessed.
Instead of advanced techniques, your success is based on consistency and listening to your body. “I always try to find a rhythm that I can maintain,” Betty explained, adding, “In these races you ask a lot of your body, and on the last lap I give everything I have.” This method, which she describes as simple, led her to break three world records in the 100 to 104 years category.
Linda Stanley Wilsonpresident of the White Rock Wave Swim Club and Betty’s coach, stressed that her focus is on protect the health of the swimmer: “When I train her, I just make sure she’s not doing anything biomechanically counterproductive or that could cause an injury,” he told The Guardian. Despite his advanced age and use of a pacemaker, after suffering a heart attack 25 years ago and depends on earphonesBetty maintains an independence and mobility that impresses those around her.
The key to your well-being lies in a active and balanced lifestyle. In addition to swimming twice a week, Betty is an avid reader and spends time doing activities such as solve puzzles, embroider y weavewhich keeps your mind active and alert. Her coach also provided other details when she said that “she finds confidence in the water. “It’s a way to relax and recharge.”
Wilson also commented on Betty’s impact on her environment: “She has the brightest blue eyes and the warmest smile. “She is very funny and chatty.” And he added that in competitions, Betty is usually the center of attention.
Although her success in the pool garnered international attention, Betty does not attribute her longevity to a single activity. “I don’t know if it’s swimming or my love for life that keeps me like this. Probably a mix of both,” he reflected. His diet is simple and variedwithout extreme restrictions, and always prioritize rest.
Betty is aware that her story inspires many, but maintains a humble view of her own life. “My friends have died. There aren’t many to call. But I continue to live day by day, enjoying what I do,” he shared.
Brussel’s relationship with swimming began as a pastime on the canals of his childhood in Amsterdam. However, decades passed before this activity became its competitive passion. He went to the 68 yearsafter having retired and after the death of her husband Gerrit, when Betty participated in the British Columbia Senior Gamesan experience that would mark the beginning of his career in professional swimming. “I didn’t know what I was doing,” he confessed. But that first encounter with competitions was enough to get her hooked.
Since then, perseverance was your greatest ally. Training just twice a week and without resorting to advanced techniques, Betty amassed an impressive history of medals and world records. Despite competing in a category with few swimmers, their times are still surprising.
On January 20 of this year, in Saanich, British Columbia, Betty broke three world records in a single day. He completed the 400 meters freestyle in 12 minutes and 50.3 seconds, beating the previous record by almost four minutes. In the 50 meters backstrokemarked 1 minute and 24.91 seconds, while in the 50 meter breaststroke established a time of 1 minute and 56.22 seconds, setting a standard in a category that until then lacked official records. “If I win, I’m happy to win. But if I have fun, I’m happier,” he commented.
“I was surprised by my own marks. I gave everything I had. It was wonderful, like being in a movie. “I felt completely overwhelmed by everyone’s support,” she said, adding: “I love the feeling of sliding through the water. “I always feel better when I get out of the pool than when I get in.”
For Betty, records are secondary to the pleasure of swimming. “I don’t think about records. I just swim, do my best, and if it’s a record, that’s fine. But if I have fun, that makes me happier”, he expressed. Her philosophy extends beyond sport: Betty believes that Each person must find what makes them feel alive. “It should be a pleasure, never a chore,” he said. And swim again.
