Latest from John Lohn

By JOHN LOHN
jlohn@delcotimes.com

MONTREAL - Long before the championship heat was contested, the deal was pretty much sealed. All Brendan Hansen did was deliver the handshake, doing so with a firm grip. More accurate, a ferocious squeeze.

Completing a breaststroke double at the World Swimming Championships, Hansen obliterated the field in the 200 breast Friday night, blazing through the water at Parc Jean-Drapeau in 2:09.85, the sixth-fastest time in history.

Hansen's victory arrived four days after he captured top honors in the 100 breast with the second-fastest time ever produced, trailing only his world record in that event. In every way, it has been a magical meet for the Haverford High graduate, already considered the greatest breaststroker the sport has seen and, seemingly, creating greater separation from his adversaries with each stroke.

Hansen pressed from the start and was under world-record pace through the first 150 meters, before slowing slightly on the final lap. Still, the swim was spectacular and gave Hansen an easy win over Canada's Mike Brown, who set a national record in 2:11.22. Japan's Genki Imamura was the bronze medalist in 2:11.54.

"I had a good strategy for the 200," Hansen said. "It's a different race altogether and I went after it. The last 50 meters just weren't there for me, but that's the nature of the sport. It'll give me something to work on. That's the nature of the game."

Through the years, Hansen has unquestionably improved his speed, whether through an improved start and pullout phase to his wall-to-wall quickness. Yet, all along, he has been blessed with tremendous endurance, a trait on display in what is considered by some to be the most grueling race in the sport.

When Hansen mined gold in the 100 breast, that performance was accompanied by redemption, namely the defeat of Japan's Kosuke Kitajima. At the Olympic Games in Athens, it was Kitajima who edged Hansen for top honors. The 200 distance, however, had a distinctly different feel.

This race had nothing to do with a rivalry or revenge. Instead, it was about pure exhibition and a battle with the clock. So outclassed was the field that Hansen was, basically, a mortal lock for gold. Obviously, his margin of victory served as proof.

Although this was Hansen's second world title in the event, it was markedly different from the one he claimed during the 2001 World Champs in Japan. Then, Hansen was a known commodity on the international scene, but not necessarily favored to win. These days, nothing short of championship efforts are expected.

Since that triumph from four years ago, Hansen has picked up a medal in each race he has contested at the international level. Between the Olympic Games, World Championships and Pan-Pacific Championships, Hansen is 15-for-15 in his medal pursuits.

Chalk that success up to a dynamite work ethic. While a handful of swimming's major names have taken the year off or have eased through their workload, Hansen has maxed out his training.

"My days in the sport are numbered," he said. "I want to make every year count and be better than I was the year before. I do what I have to do, no matter how tough the training might be."

A University of Texas product, Hansen has always shown a knack for the history books. That is, how to enter them. With each major competition, the 23-year-old finds a way to bolster his legacy. If not through time, then achievement. Sometimes, both.

In completing the 100-200 breast double, Hansen became just the fourth man to turn the trick at the World Championships. More, by claiming his third individual breast title, he joined Great Britain's David Wilkie and Hungary's Norbert Rosza in the trifecta category.

While this competition is over for Hansen on an individual basis, he'll take part in the meet's final event Sunday night, the 400 medley relay. Handling the breaststroke leg, Hansen is likely to corral a third gold medal. From there, he'll board a flight to Southern California and participate in the Duel in the Pool, the head-to-head matchup between the United States and Australia. A handful of engagements will follow, and then it's home to Havertown for some well-deserved rest.

"It really hurt," Hansen said of the race. "But, it's supposed to hurt. It's not supposed to be easy. I gave it everything I had, and that's all I can ask of myself. It was tough without anyone (pushing). But, I'll take the win. It's nice to have."