Celebrating Conny Stamhuis – still swimming strong at 90yrs 

PHOTO – Betty Brussels (L) and Conny Stamhuis (R) at the 2017 World Masters in Budapest, Hungary

On the occasion of her 90th birthday – February 18th, 2022

This week Conny turns 90 and, in celebration of that landmark, we thought we would look back at some of Conny’s remarkable swimming accomplishments.  Conny moved to Canada from her native Netherlands at 20 and, although she was a competitive swimmer at a teenager, family and her career as a nurse took precedence over swimming for many years.

Then at 65, at the urging of her son Mike Stamhuis—a champion swimmer himself, Conny climbed back into the pool.  It didn’t take long for her natural talent and love for the sport to rise to the surface.

“When I started, I could barely make it from one end to the pool to the other, but I kept it up because I enjoyed it so much,” she said. “Mike took me along to my first meet in Nanaimo when I was 66 and I promptly broke a record (in breaststroke). I enjoyed the swimming so much and the people, I was hooked after that.

Although Conny competed in her 60s & 70s, including attending national and international meets, our list of her swimming accomplishments starts as Conny is turning 80.  Many of the highlights below are expanded in articles posted in the OMSC News section.

Apr, 2011 (at 79 and at the top of her age group 75-79) – BC Masters Swimming Provincial Championships in Kelowna – Four first places in 50m Free, 50m Back, 50m Breast & 200m Back.

May, 2011 – Canadian National Championships in Quebec – Five top three places including first place in 200m Back & 50m Breast.

Nov, 2011 – OMSC Swimmer of the Year.

Apr, 2012 – BC Masters Swimming Provincial Championships in the 80-84 age group – Five top two places including first place in 200m Back, 100m Back & 50m Breast.

May, 2012 – Canadian National Championships in Kelowna – Three first places in 50m Breast, 200m Back & 100m Back. Two second places in 50m Back & 50m Free.

July, 2012 – Interior Savings Across the Lake Swim (ATLS) – The first time Conny participated was at the age of 80 and she was the recipient of the Jan Morrow Award in recognition of her contribution to Masters swimming.

Apr, 2013 – BC Masters Swimming Provincial Championships – Four first places in 50m, 100m, 200m Back & 50m Free.

Aug, 2013 – World Masters Games in Torino, Italy – Gold medal in 100m & 200m Back, 50m Breast (also broke a BC record) & 50m Free, Silver in 50m Back.

Nov, 2013 – OMSC Elena Dimitrov Award for Courage and Determination.

Apr, 2014 – BC Masters Swimming Provincial Championships – Four first places in 50m, 200m Back, 50m Free & 50m Breast.

Aug, 2014 – FINA World Masters Swimming Championships in Montreal – Five top five places including a Gold medal in 50m Breast.

Nov, 2014 – OMSC Swimmer of the Year.

Apr, 2015 – BC Masters Swimming Provincial Championships – Four first place finishes in 50m, 200m Back, 50m Free & 50m Breast.

Apr, 2016 – BC Masters Swimming Provincial Championships – Five first place finishes in 50m, 100m, 200m Back, 50m Free & 50m Breast.  In addition, from the press release at the time…  “Competing in the combined age group 320-359, four swimmers broke the Canadian record in a time of 3:43.41 at the BC Provincials in Richmond. The team consisted of Conny Stamhuis (84) backstroke, Ross Carviel (86) breaststroke, Tony Hoft (61) butterfly and Betty Brussel (92) freestyle”.

Nov, 2016 – OMSC Elena Dimitrov Award for Courage and Determination (GROUP PHOTO)

Nov, 2016 – Conny was inducted into the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame – Athlete category.

Jan, 2017 – Victoria, BC LC meet – She moves up to the age group 85-89. Three first places – 50m, 200m Back, 50m Breast and set a new Canadian record in LC 200m Back.

Apr, 2017 – BC Masters Swimming Provincial Championships – Four first places – 50m, 200m Back, 50m Free, 50m Breast plus set another Canadian record (age group 85-89) in SC 200m Back.

Aug, 2017 – FINA World Masters Championships in Budapest, Hungary – from the press release at the time – “Stamhuis, of Okanagan Masters Swim Club (OMSC), touched the wall 23 seconds ahead of the field in the 100m Back to win the event.” Conny learned much later that she set a Canadian record with that swim. She also took gold in the 50m Back, and silver in the 50m Breast and 50m Free.

Nov, 2017 – OMSC Swimmer of the Year.

Apr, 2018 – BC Masters Swimming Provincial Championships – Five first places in 50m, 100m & 200m Back, 50m Free & 50m Breast.

May, 2018 – Canadian National Championships in Calgary – Five top two places including first place in 50m Free, 50m Back, 50m Breast, second place in 200m Back, 100m Back.

July, 2018 – Interior Savings Across the Lake Swim (ATLS) – first in age group (F80+).

Apr, 2019 – BC Masters Swimming Provincial Championships – Three first places in 50m Back, 50m Breast, 50m Free, second place in 100m Back.

We have had a COVID break from competitions for the past two years.  Conny is now swimming in the 90-94 age group and raring to go.  She currently is registered for the coming Victoria LC meet and the 2022 BC Provincials.  We wish her well in these meets and for many years to come.