Swimming: Hansen puts in on cruise control

MONTREAL -- Nobody is going to touch him. That message became abundantly clear Thursday night, when Brendan Hansen dominated the semifinals of the 200-meter breaststroke at the World Swimming Championships in Montreal. While seven other competitors will climb atop the starting blocks tonight for the final, they're not battling for gold.

A bold statement? Maybe. But, it's the truth.

Three days after claiming a world title in the 100 breast at Parc Jean-Drapeau, Hansen blistered through his semifinal race in the 200 breast, covering the distance in 2 minutes, 10.23 seconds. The next-fastest qualifier was Canada's Mike Brown, who registered a mark of 2:11.26, a national record.

What's scary is the fact that Hansen, a Haverford High graduate, was in cruise control, expending just enough energy to comfortably advance to the championship heat. So, with plenty of ammo remaining, only one question surrounds the final: Can Hansen dip under his world-record time? The magic number is 2:09.04, produced at last summer's United States Olympic Trials in Long Beach (Calif.).

"I'm going to be close to my record," Hansen said, only minutes after his race. "I felt really good. The race was nice and easy. I fed off the crowd. They were going nuts, and I used it. I know it wasn't for me, but I fed off it anyway. It was a real strong swim and I'll be even better in the final."

With Brown next to Hansen in the first semifinal, the Montreal crowd went crazy for its home-grown athlete. The fans cheered during the introductions and became louder during the race. Always one to use boisterous conditions in his favor, Hansen treated the crowd support as his own.

A University of Texas product, Hansen was just off his world-record pace at the 50-meter mark and settled into a smooth rhythm during the final three laps. His performance was comfortable from start to finish.

"It's great to race beside that guy," Brown said of Hansen. "He's a phenomenal athlete, the best in the world in that event."

Although Hansen's name has circulated on the international scene since 1999, it was this event that elevated his status to world-class at the 2001 World Championships. Competing in Fukuoka, Japan, Hansen won his first global crown, accomplishing the feat in the 200 breast.

Since that day, Hansen has consistently built his portfolio, adding world and national championships, along with numerous world and American records. Considered the greatest breaststroker in history, Hansen is simply creating more distance between himself and his opposition.

During the morning preliminaries, Hansen eased through the water in 2:12.74, just behind the 2:12.73 of Kazakhstan's Vladislav Polyakov. While Hansen exerted minimal energy, Polyakov pushed himself to the max. Yes, the difference between Hansen and his counterparts is astounding.

If Hansen secures gold in the 200 breast, he will become just the fourth man to win the 100 and 200 distances at the same World Championships. More, he will join Great Britain's David Wilkie and Hungary's Norbert Rosza as a three-time champion in breaststroke action on the world-championship stage.

A world record would be a sweet bonus.

"I was so relaxed out there," Hansen said of his semifinal. "In the morning, I was a little tight. This race, I got real loose and had a solid swim. I'm looking forward to the final."

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