98-year-old B.C. competitive swimmer strives to inspire after surviving war and losing love
Betty Brussel would never have imagined that — at 98 years old — people would ask to pose with her poolside.
“I grew up in the '30s,” Betty says. “There was no money for lessons or pools or anything.”
And then the Second World War made her family’s humble home in Holland seem almost uninhabitable.
“We didn’t have bathrooms or showers,” she says. “Can you image being without electricity for three years?”
Although she and her 10 siblings would sometimes have to beg for food, Betty says there was always an abundance of love.
“Love is very important,” she says.
Love of family inspired Betty and her husband Gerrit to have three children of their own, before following her siblings and emigrating to Canada.
“[This] is the best place in the world to live,” Betty smiles. “I love it here.”
Here is where — when Betty was 68 — she decided to start swimming.
“I could only do the breast-stroke,” Betty says. “And I didn’t do it right.”
But the swim club she joined with her husband didn’t take themselves too seriously.
“We had so much fun,” Betty smiles, looking through photos of them dressed in creative costumes.
And along the way, Betty got so much better at swimming that she was invited to begin competing.
“I like to win,” she says, before adding she has a bag full of medals that’s too heavy for her to pick-up.
“But it’s not important.”
Although she doesn’t recall the exact number of gold medals she’s won, or know how many provincial, national, or world records she’s earned (there’s been a lot), Betty will never forget look on her husband’s face during their final years together.
“He slowly faded away,” Betty says, smiling at a photo of him.
“But if I would come home with all the medals, he would be so proud of me.”
Despite losing Gerrit after almost 65 years of marriage, despite suffering from a heart attack, broken bones, and a torn shoulder, Betty kept returning to the pool.
“The pool is absolutely my happy place,” Betty smiles, shortly before diving into the pool to compete in the first of seven contests at the 55+ BC Games.
This pool is where — for the past 30 years — Betty’s provided inspiration for her competition.
“No matter how old you are,” Betty says. “You’re never too old to learn."
In a couple years, the pool is where the now 98-year-old plans to be celebrating a century of living, and striving for the hardware in the 100-plus category of swimming competitions.
“I just love to live,” Betty beams. “I live every day and I enjoy every day!”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it's too late
Christine Roess is a retired consultant. Ezra Bozeman has spent the last 49 years in prison, serving a life sentence for a murder he says he didn’t commit. Against the odds, the two fell in love.