Robert Bettauer’s tennis career didn’t slow down when he entered the 60-plus category last year.
The Oak Bay tennis player has won five provincial singles titles, four provincial doubles titles, a western Canada singles title, a national singles title, and represented Canada in the World Senior Team Championships in the past seven years alone, continuing his record this spring at the B.C. Senior 60+ Championships.
Battauer won both singles and doubles with Bear Mountain Tennis Director Russ Hartley.
“The quality [of the B.C. Championships] is getting better every year. More and more folks are getting back into playing, even ones I played tennis with forty years ago,” Bettauer said.
At the tournament, he said, “It’s very competitive on the court, but it’s wonderfully social afterwards. Afterwards, we all enjoy having a meal, a beer or a wine.”
Sport, he maintains, is essential to emotional, mental and physical health. “Being physically active and engaging in sport is preventative healthcare. People will just generally be healthier.”
He added that there is a movement today for people of all ages to become active, and racquet sports like tennis are accessible for children, adults and seniors alike.
As a boy, Bettauer played tennis and hockey after immigrating to Canada with his parents and siblings.
The family used sports as a means to exercise and to integrate into their community.
In addition to maintaining good health, he said, “sport is a common language.” Bettauer continued with hockey for many years, but ultimately moved forward with tennis, which he calls “the lifelong sport.”
“You can play it inside or outside. You can adjust how competitive or social you want the experience to be, through singles or doubles,” Bettauer said, adding that tennis is so well-organized on the national and international scale today that he could play seniors’ tennis full-time, should he choose to.
“Sports like tennis are so accessible. You’re using all of your body and it’s well-positioned to be able to play well into your senior years.”
Bettauer went professional in 1978, when he became a three-time Canadian National champion. He was a member of Canada’s Davis Cup team, going on to coach Canada’s Davis Cup team and the Canadian Olympic tennis teams at the Seoul and Barcelona Olympic Games.
The professional player served as Director of Tennis Development for Tennis Canada, President and CEO of the Canadian Sport Centre Ontario, and sport consultant for provincial and federal projects, including 2010’s Own the Podium campaign.
In the same year, he was offered position of CEO at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence, where he remains today.
Outside PISE, Bettauer continues to compete and provide television commentary for Canadian tournaments.
“[CEO of PISE] has been the most rewarding job so far,” Bettauer said. “We’re an outstanding community.” PISE facilitates athletic success for top players and fitness for all, regardless of age or ability.
To those he mentors and teaches, Bettauer says, “If you have a great attitude and you do your best, good things tend to follow.”
Fitness is a key way to maintain health throughout life, and an affordable one in the long-run.
Despite his illustrious traveling career, Bettauer plans to keep residence in Oak Bay.
“There is no finer place in the world. We’re going to continue to contribute to the community, to tennis and to PISE.”
The remainder of 2017 sees his work implementing eight clay courts at Bear Mountain, and training for next year’s competitions.
editor@oakbaynews.com
