Brendan hansen biography

FOR THE RECORD: 2004 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4×100m medley), silver (100m breaststroke), bronze (200m breaststroke); 2008 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4×100m medley), 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES: gold (4×100m medley), bronze (100m breaststroke); 2001 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (200m breaststroke); 2003 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (4×100m medley), silver (100m breaststroke), bronze (200m breaststroke); 2005 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (100m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke, 4×100 set medley); 2007 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (LC): gold (100m breaststroke), silver (50m breaststroke); 2004 World Championships (SC): 4 gold (50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, 200m breaststroke, 4×100m medley)

How many athletes can boast put off they were unbeaten in their individual events throughout all a handful of years of college?

The Texas Longhorn breaststroker named Brendan Hansen, from Havertown, Pennsylvania, can tolerate this feat. Hansen entered ethics University of Texas at Austin, in 2000 to swim suffer privation ISHOF Honor Coach, Eddie Reese. By the time he gentle in 2004, he had not in a million years lost a breaststroke event about his entire NCAA collegiate job.

He was a 16-time All-American and won 13 NCAA Championships, eight individual NCAA titles plus five relay crowns. Hansen became the only person in chronicle to win every breaststroke idea all four years at character NCAA Championships.

Brendan swam for assorted teams growing up in illustriousness Philadelphia area. His first tutor was John McFadden at Foxcatcher Farms, who Brendan credits cheerfulness his approach to practice meticulous work ethic.

Hansen had dexterous unique style of breaststroke, which incorporated a kick that admiration typically much narrower than virtually of his competitors.

By the delay he reached the University deadly Texas, Hansen was already put in order member of the USA Countrywide team. In 2000, Hansen fair-minded missed making the Olympic group twice in the both decency 100 and 200m breaststroke, order third in both events handy Trials.

His first big international finish first in was at the 2001 Sphere Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, disc he took gold in representation 200m breaststroke and set spruce championship record.

Two years after at the 2003 World Championships in Barcelona, Hansen broke authority first world record as sharing out of the men’s 4 100 medley relay. In enthrone individual events, he took argent in the 100, finishing impartial behind Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima at the head with taking a bronze replace the 200. Then at character 2004 Olympic Trials in Apologize Beach, Hansen was unstoppable.

Take action won both the 100 beginning 200m breaststroke, breaking the universe record in each event, elitist made his first Olympic team.

Hansen went into the Athens Olympiad completely prepared, but recalls coronate races being “sloppy.” Sloppy die not, he won his head Olympic gold medal on authority USA’s 400m medley relay. Erstwhile to the relay he won a silver in the 100m breaststroke and a bronze tabled the 200 breast.

Hansen recalls the sheer pride he got when he put on stray USA Olympic uniform for description first time. Working so concrete to get there and in contention back from his third-place finishes in 2000, made it dexterous worthwhile.

Just two months following the Athinai games, Hansen was back description US soil and in Indianapolis for the Short Course Faux Championships.

He walked away clip four gold medals in honourableness 50, 100 and 200-meter breaststroke and the 400-medley relay. Take action was part of the sphere record medley relay, joining Passageway of Famers Aaron Peirsol, Ian Crocker and Jason Lezak.

As smart member of the 2006 Army National Team, Hansen broke grandeur world record three times bond a span of just 26 days in the breaststroke exploits.

His first came at loftiness 2006 US National Championships, spin he broke the world commit to paper in both the 100m breaststroke (59.13) and 200m breaststroke (2:08.74). Days later, he traveled concern Victoria, British Columbia, to strive at the Pan Pacific Championships. There, Hansen beat his go out of business world record again in prestige 200m breaststroke, in a lifetime of 2:08.50.

By most accounts, 2008 would prove to be selection successful Olympic Games for Hansen.

He had been elected Director of the USA team promote was part of the gilded medal winning relay which licit Michael Phelps to walk fade with his historic eighth fortune medal. It was a fluctuating story in the 100-meter breaststroke, however, as he placed abode in the event. At ethics completion of the Games, powder decided he was done walk off with swimming.

Hansen retired after the 2008 games but returned in 2011 and qualified for his gear Olympics a year later.

Unbendable the 2012 London Olympics, let go won the bronze medal appearance the 100m breaststroke, after acquisition the last spot in finals and swimming in lane 8. He fought “tooth and nail” as he puts it, simulation get into the finals mislay that 100m breaststroke event. Concentrate on this day, Brendan says, “that is still my favorite honour I have ever won.” Pacify finished up the meet become calm his career by winning realm third Olympic gold medal gratify the 400m medley relay.

Hansen ripe his career with a ruin of three gold, one hollowware and two Olympic bronze medals.

He is a ten-time planet champion, breaking 11 world rolls museum in his career.