World Championship Swimming: Hansen's message is he's ready to go

By new uncle, JOHN LOHN
jlohn@delcotimes.com

INDIANAPOLIS -- The results from Indianapolis lead to one conclusion: Look out in Montreal. Brendan Hansen is mining for gold.

Wrapping up his World Championship Swimming Trials in stylish fashion, Hansen gave his world record in the 200-meter breaststroke a scare Tuesday night. Ahead of pace for the opening 150 meters, Hansen settled for a time of 2:10.20, the eighth-fastest mark in history.

Although Hansen fell short of his global standard, the 2:09.04 he popped at last summer's Olympic Trials, his effort was the third-fastest in American history. More important, Hansen made a major statement for the World Championships, slated for Montreal in late July.

Prior to pushing his record in the four-lap breaststroke, Hansen won the 100 breast at the Trials on the first night of competition in Indy. Without a doubt, he's capable of leaving Canada with a pair of world titles.

"I just think that's a really good time for me right now," said Hansen, the University of Texas product who now represents Longhorn Aquatics. "Hopefully, we can take something from (the 200 breast) and go back to the drawing board for the summer."

By qualifying for Montreal, Hansen earned a bid to his third World Championships, complementing appearances in Japan in 2001 and Spain in 2003. In his previous trips, Hansen has won four medals, including gold in the 200 breast four years ago.

In 2003, the four-time All-Delco captured silver in the 100 breast, bronze in the 200 breast and gold as a member of the 400 medley relay that set a world record.

Hansen faced little competition during his near-record swim, as he opened up a one-and-a-half second margin at the quarter pole and led by nearly three seconds at the race's midpoint. Really, it was the three-time Olympic medalist vs. the clock.

Scott Usher, an Athens Olympian, earned the second invitation to the World Champs, as he checked in at 2:13.46. Kevin Swander, meanwhile, finished third in 2:15.84.

En route to qualifying first for the championship final, Hansen strolled through the morning preliminaries. Touching the wall in 2:13.02, Hansen exerted minimal energy while topping the competition by more than four seconds.

In Montreal, Hansen is expected to rekindle his rivalry with Japan's Kosuke Kitajima, the double-gold medalist in the breast events from Athens. Based on his performances in Indianapolis, there's every reason to believe Hansen will sizzle.

"For me, the big thing is to go out and set a world record on an international stage" Hansen said last week. "I'm worried about what I'm doing. There's more to prove."