Betty Brussel, 99, has broken three world records in the 100 to 104-year-old age class. The Canadian broke the existing world record in the 400-metre freestyle, knocking nearly four minutes off the previous time and repeated her record-breaking performances in the 50-metre backstroke and the 50-metre breaststroke that same day. Even though she’s not yet 100, swimming uses the competitors’ birth year to determine the age category and so Brussel will compete in the 100 to 104 category for the rest of the year. Brussel first took interest in competitive swimming in her mid-60s, when she raced in the British Columbia Senior Games, and she has been setting new records ever since. Over the years, she’s maintained a consistent training regime at the pool, swimming twice a week, with no drills.

Source: The Guardian January 24, 2024 12:12 UTC