21 - 40

21. Did you fall in love in 2005?
22. What was your favorite sporting moment of 2005?
23. What was your favorite TV program?
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
25. What was the best book you read?
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
27. What did you want and get?
28. What did you want and NOT get?
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
33. What kept you sane?
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
36. Who did you miss?
37. Who was the best new person you met?
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005:
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
40. Who was your favorite Breaststroker of 2005?

40 Question Survey....Holy Smokes

Ok, y'all can blame UT Gina for this. She sent me the questions, I'm only posting them. I've decided to split them up over a couple of days though because I'm too ADD to do 40 at once and I suspect many of you are as well.

Before we get to the questions, there was a tiny Brendan mention in the Delco Times yesterday. For those of you who just love seeing Brendan's name in print even when it's not really new information, scroll down to July...

Former Haverford High School swimmer Brendan Hansen, who earned Olympic medals in 2004, added to his breaststroke legend by capturing gold medals in the 100 breast and 200 breast at the World Swimming Championships.

Now to the Survey Questions:

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
4. Did anyone close to you die?
5. What countries did you visit?
6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
9. What was your biggest failure?
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
11. What was the best thing you bought?
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
14. Where did most of your money go?
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

• happier or sadder?
• richer or poorer?
• thinner or fatter?

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
20. How will you be spending the Holidays?

Hopes for the New Year

By John Lohn

ASTON, Pennsylvania, December 27. WHAT can we hope for in 2006? Well, fast swimming would obviously be great. But, let's get a little more specific. So, here are a few things this writer would like to see occur beginning with the New Year.

• Since we know that the world record in the women's 200 individual medley, held by China's Wu Yanyan, is drug-tainted, let's hope that Katie Hoff wipes the standard from the books. The new face of American swimming, Hoff certainly has the talent to take down the record of 2:09.72, as her mark of 2:10.41 from last summer's World Championships is the second-fastest swim in history.
• Let's also hope that Hoff continues to attack additional events, as she did last year by adding the 200 freestyle to her World Champs program. Also an accomplished performer in the backstroke and butterfly, demonstrated at points over the last year, including the U.S. Open, Hoff's star is going to continue to soar higher and higher.
• While it's difficult to fault athletes for taking the money, as it provides for a better lifestyle, let's hope that Qatar is unable to find the two missing links it will need to package a medal-contending relay at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The nation has already landed the duo of Duje Draganja (Croatia) and Rolandas Gimbutis (Lithuania) and needs two more solid sprinters to make a run at a 400 freestyle relay medal. The Olympics, though, are about national pride and bringing home a medal under the flag of an athlete's true nation. The Games are not about purchasing medals, which is exactly what Qatar is attempting to achieve. It would be a shame, come 2008, to see an all-star squad standing on any of the steps of the medal podium.
• Here's to Ian Thorpe making a splendid return to the international scene. There is no arguing that the man is the finest middle-distance freestyler in history and having the Australian back in the mix, following a post-Athens refuel, is great for the sport. Let's hope that Thorpe puts on a show at the Commonwealth Games in March and rekindles discussion of world-record swims.
• Let's hope that another sub-19-second swim in the 50-yard freestyle will dot the NCAA Championships. When Auburn's Fred Bousquet accomplished the feat last year (twice), he broke through an amazing barrier. His efforts were special and, though the barrier has been busted, cracking 19 seconds remains an eye-popping achievement.
• Lets hope that Brooke Bennett's return to the American distance scene is filled with much success. With Kate Ziegler owning that realm, wouldn't it be intriguing to see a former star locate some of her old magic and give the United States a one-two punch of youth and experience on the international stage? It might be tough, but Bennett has the credentials and deserves the support.
• Maybe, if we're lucky, we'll get to see Ian Crocker break the 50-second barrier in the 100 butterfly. Just a few years ago, breaking the 51-second mark was viewed as ridiculous. These days, though, Crocker has redefined the event and is the guy capable of taking the 100 fly into a new stratosphere. Let's also hope Crocker revisits the 100 freestyle, where he can be a major player internationally.

Another year end article with no mention of Brendan so lemme make a little addition...

• Let's hope we see Brendan Hansen proving yet again that, dolphin kick or no dolphin kick, he's the best breaststroker in the World and maybe if we're lucky we'll see him break the 59 second barrier in the 100 Breaststroke this season.

What are YOUR hopes for the New Year?

Merry Christmas & Happy Chanukah!

My gift to you, although maybe a little late on the Christmas one, two new wallpapers.

On the Twelfth Day of Christmas

Brendan gave to me...

12 Tequila shots! ( Wheeeeeeee! Brendan is the best Santa EVER! )
11 smoked almonds (I hear they make you grow big and strong)
10 hours of dryland ()
9 laps of fly (I want a new Santa )
8 laps of freestyle (I didn't mean it! I love Ramen and old catalogs!)
7 packs of Ramen (That's so lame dude. And it's chicken flavor - my least favorite)
6 old nike catalogs ( gah, you aren't even in it!)
5 Olympic Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiings!
4 huge burritos
3 relay teammates
2 purple speedos
and a burnt orange scrubby scrunchie

John Lohn's latest - The Year in Review - for Premium members of Swimming World Magazine

A place for you...

Leave your holiday greetings for Brendan, the Hansen Family and everyone at BHO in this thread.

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas

Brendan gave to me...

11 smoked almonds (I hear they make you grow big and strong)
10 hours of dryland ()
9 laps of fly (I want a new Santa )
8 laps of freestyle (I didn't mean it! I love Ramen and old catalogs!)
7 packs of Ramen (That's so lame dude. And it's chicken flavor - my least favorite)
6 old nike catalogs ( gah, you aren't even in it!)
5 Olympic Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiings!
4 huge burritos
3 relay teammates
2 purple speedos
and a burnt orange scrubby scrunchie

Contributions to LRF up to $935! Thanks to everyone who's donated. If you haven't made a contribution yet and would like to, click here.

Aaron Piersol Visits Great Wall of China; Returns to the United States Inspired

Swimming World TV To Take The Air

'Tis the Season (Christmas Workouts and Games)

On the Tenth Day...

Brendan gave to me...

10 hours of dryland ()
9 laps of fly (I want a new Santa )
8 laps of freestyle (I didn't mean it! I love Ramen and old catalogs!)
7 packs of Ramen (That's so lame dude. And it's chicken flavor - my least favorite)
6 old nike catalogs ( gah, you aren't even in it!)
5 Olympic Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiings!
4 huge burritos
3 relay teammates
2 purple speedos
and a burnt orange scrubby scrunchie

A letter to St. Nick

It's that time already. Wow! Christmas sure whizzes by when you're MAS's age. Let's get down to some yuletide biz. How about bringing these gifts for the following sports celebs:

Kosuke Kitajima, Olympic swimming champ. A vat full of mustard and sauerkraut to slather on himself the next time he wins a gold medal and then celebrates like a hot dog.

heh.

Happy Birthday Barb!

Ninth Day...

Brendan gave to me...

9 laps of fly (I want a new Santa )
8 laps of freestyle (I didn't mean it! I love Ramen and old catalogs!)
7 packs of Ramen (That's so lame dude. And it's chicken flavor - my least favorite)
6 old nike catalogs ( gah, you aren't even in it!)
5 Olympic Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiings!
4 huge burritos
3 relay teammates
2 purple speedos
and a burnt orange scrubby scrunchie

Some links...
Aaron Piersol Motivates Chinese Youth, Later Visits Tiananmen Square

20 Question Tuesday with Chris DeJong

So, has everyone finished their shopping?

On the Eighth Day of Christmas

Brendan gave to me...

8 laps of freestyle (I didn't mean it! I love Ramen and old catalogs!)
7 packs of Ramen (That's so lame dude. And it's chicken flavor - my least favorite)
6 old nike catalogs ( gah, you aren't even in it!)
5 Olympic Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiings!
4 huge burritos
3 relay teammates
2 purple speedos
and a burnt orange scrubby scrunchie

And speaking of Nike catalogs...



Milk from Aaron Peirsol Online sent me this photo of Brendan from the new 2006 Spring catalog. Now, someone please explain to me why you would sponsor a World Champion, World Record Holding Breaststroker but use a photo of him swimming backstroke? And while we're at it, why would you keep a hottie like Bren under wraps and not put big giant pics of him all over every catalog? But anyway, nice "form" Brendan.

Piersol Conducts Chinese Clinic, Trains, Plays "Golf" and Visits Pearl Market

Video:A greeting from Aaron and some new friends from China. (0.53 MB)

Holiday Donations to the Leukemia Research Foundation

Congratulations Brendan fans, you've donated more than $800 to LRF since I placed the donation button on the blog last year. How great is that? The folks at LRF are currently working on a new donation page for Brendan with the updated total and they now allow donations in increments of $18 (or whatever amount you'd like) and have also added the ability to make your donations on behalf of a business or anonymously. It would be great to see the total get up over the $1000 mark in the next couple of weeks and I hope those of you who can afford to contribute will make the effort. I don't know anyone who's life hasn't been touched by cancer in some way and Leukemia is especially devastating since it's victims are so young. Thanks to everyone who has already made a donation. It's the best gift you can give this year.

LRF's Mission: To conquer leukemia, lymphoma, and myelodysplastic syndromes by funding research into their causes and cures, and to enrich the quality of life of those touched by these diseases.

On the Seventh Day of Christmas....

Brendan gave to me...

7 packs of Ramen (That's so lame dude. And it's chicken flavor - my least favorite)
6 old nike catalogs ( gah, you aren't even in it!)
5 Olympic Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiings!
4 huge burritos
3 relay teammates
2 purple speedos
and a burnt orange scrubby scrunchie

Cute pics of our two Ballerinas, Alexandra and Francesca, have been added to the blogger gallery. Alexandra was the Sugarplum Fairy and Francesca did the Chinese solo in a production of the Nutcracker (Going to see the Nutcracker is one of my favorite things to do during the holidays).

On the Sixth Day of Christmas

Brendan gave to me...

6 old nike catalogs ( gah, you aren't even in it!)
5 Olympic Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiings!
4 huge burritos
3 relay teammates
2 purple speedos
and a burnt orange scrubby scrunchie

Aaron is Welcomed With Larger Than Life Sized Banner of Himself in Beijing
Video: Piersol, Aaron - Aaron makes a Chinese Taco with Olympic Gold Medalist Luo Xue-juan (0.98 MB)

Ok, Fifth day...

5 OLYMPIC RIIIIIINGS! (Y'all had to see that coming)
4 huge burritos
3 relay teammates
2 purple speedos
and a burnt orange scrubby scrunchie

On the Forth Day of Christmas...

Brendan gave to me
4 huge burritos
3 relay teammates
2 purple speedos
and a burnt orange scrubby scrunchie

And y'all be sure to read Aaron's diary of his Beijing trip on Swimming World...

Beijing, December 16. AARON Piersol Diary Day 1: I left Austin holding a Starbucks and listening to Christmas music. 24 hours later I was able to buy a Starbucks and was still hearing Christmas music, but I was in Beijing International Airport!!!!

I never thought I would run into Santa Claus in China, but this world seems to be getting smaller day-by-day. I have not been so excited to visit another country in a long time. I have always felt China was just so far away and now I am here, in a country very unlike the one I live in; what a great learning experience.

I made a pact with Bobby Brewer, my agent from Premier Management Group, who is sitting with me right now, along with Eric Hanson, the coach for Wisconsin, and Rachel Joseph, our Nike rep, that we would eat as much local food as possible even though we did not know what it would consist of. Turns out it will be lobster and duck; beats the American Steakhouse downstairs that we could get back home anytime.

As we are resting from the flight right now, we are going over today's schedule which will be pretty mellow; just a press conference, a TV interview for CCTV and an online chat with fans organized by Nike. After that, if we're still standing (Bobby and I have been up since 2am Beijing time), we'll hit the town and do a little site seeing and shopping.

I brought my nice camera, a Canon Rebel XT, so I'll try to take some good pictures for all you guys back home.

On the Third Day of Christmas...

Brendan gave to me
3 relay teammates (Wheeee! Best day ever! Thanks Brendan!)
2 purple speedos
and a burnt orange scrubby scrunchie.



The boys will thank you too. I promise!
And Blair - you are absolutely right. This will be the cheesiest thing we've ever done BY FAR. It will take cheese to new heights. Or new lows, however you want to think about it. Wheeee!

In Texas teammate news...
Peirsol to Promote Swimming in China: Three-Time Olympic Gold Medalist to Execute Instructional Clinics for Swimmers in Beijing

Mental Preparation with Aaron Peirsol

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY POPPY!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHN LOHN! (You've had a better year than most!)
AND AN EARLY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO UNCLE A!

On the First Day of Christmas Brendan Gave to Me...

Ok, so the way we'll do this is that I'll start a new thread each day up until Christmas Eve and we'll add on to our song rewrites as we go. Of course, I'm a day late starting this so we'll go ahead and do 2 days at once. You can change the title too. If you want it to be Santa instead of Brendan, or Rowdy Gaines, or whatever - it's YOUR rewrite, just keep it clean. Don't worry if you miss a day, you can catch up later. I have a ton of Texas Swimming stuff I bought while in Austin and I'm happy to send something to whomever is deemed to have posted the best one. Maybe I'll impanel a special celebrity guest jury for this one.

Ok, here's mine...

• On the first day of Christmas Brendan gave to me a burnt orange scrubby scrunchie.
• On the second day of Christmas Brendan gave to me 2 purple speedos and a burnt orange scrubby scrunchie.

Now tomorrow I'll post all of that plus my third day's item. Your turn!

Brendan Mentions...

Brendan get's an honorable mention in Swimming World Magazine's Top 10 Performances of the Year for his 100 Meter Breastroke race at Worlds where he was only 7-hundredths off his world record.

Other favorites who made the list are:

• Ian Crocker in the number 1 position for his 100 Fly victory over Phelps at Worlds.
• Roland Schoeman makes it twice for his 50 Fly World Record in Montreal and his 50 Free.
• Aaron Peirsol of course for his 100 backstroke world record at Worlds.

You can also find a little photo of Brendan (the one shown above) on the following page where all the World's best are listed.

Rowdy also mentions Brendan in his 20 Questions posted at USA Swimming today.

8 Who is a swimmer you are excited about watching, and commentating on, in 2008?
Rowdy: There are a few. I really like Katie Hoff and what she's doing. I like the way the women's team is in that young-phase now: Katie Hoff, Kate Ziegler, Jessica Hardy...the women's team is going to be in great shape, with two-and-a-half more years for those girls to get used to competing at international level. On the men's side it comes down to the leadership of a certain few. Don't get me wrong, the women's side has that too with swimmers like Kaitlin Sandeno and Natalie Coughlin, but the women's team will be much more untested compared to the men's side. The men's team has been tested, so they have to maintain and build upon that. Guys like Brendan Hansen, Michael Phelps, Aaron Peirsol and Ian Crocker will be just fine. I don't see an up-and-comer breaking into that group, but you never know.

Wheeeeee!

And the Winner Is....

Lala!



Lala has foregone the bonus prize and wants it to go to the second place finisher who is Jessi! Both are really excellent designs. I love the details. The Athen's laurel in Lala's and Brendan's World Record times used for the phone numbers in Jessi's. I really enjoyed looking at all the creative email addresses, web url's and phone numbers y'all used.



Congrats and thanks to everyone who participated. If I don't already have a shipping address for you be sure to send me one. And thanks to the 128 folks who took the time to look and vote. You can find the detailed results here.

The next contest will involve rewriting the Twelve Days of Christmas. I'll post more details later this week but y'all start thinking about it.

Updates...

I've added some birthdays to the birthday page (Dolphin, Melissa and Brit_1102). Sorry that took me so long. I've also added a photo of Meredith to the Blogger Gallery.



Enjoy some old school Q&A with Brendan.

As a wise woman once said to me...It's on like Donkey Kong

Ok, it was just Atrophy so maybe wise is a stretch. This can't have been Aaron's best week ever. A loss in the 200 at the Texas Invitational and now this. But Go Markus! Couldn't have happened to a hotter, err I mean nicer guy. Chicken pitas on me y'all!



Rogan Breaks Peirsol's World Record in Short Course 200 Backstroke

European Short Course Champs Off to Sizzling Start

TRIESTE, Italy, December 8. A pair of world records and a European standard were disposed of on Thursday when the European Short Course Championships kicked off in Trieste, Italy. Austria's Markus Rogan (200 backstroke) and Hungary's Laszlo Cseh (200 individual medley) set new world records while Russia's Yuri Prilukov set a new European standard in the 400 freestyle.

Rogan, who won a silver medal in the 200 backstroke at the Athens Olympics, won his prime event in 1:50.43, taking nine hundredths off the former world record of 1:50.52, held by the United States' Aaron Peirsol. Rogan was in second place at the 100-meter mark, but came on strong down the stretch to dispatch Russia's Arkady Vyatchanin (1:50.77).

As for Cseh, he rewrote the global standard in the 200 I.M. with a time of 1:53.46, well under the old record of 1:53.93, set in 2004 by George Bovell at the NCAA Championships. Cseh, a triple-event medalist at the World Championships in Montreal last summer, blasted the competition, as Lithuania's Vytautas Janusaitis was second in 1:55.52. Third place went to Italy's Alessio Boggiatto (1:56.11).

En route to gold in the 400 free, Prilukov edged Poland's Pawel Korzeniowski at the wall. Prilukov, who was second in the 400 free at the World Champs, clocked in at 3:37.81, under the former European record of Italy's Massi Rosolino (3:39.59). Korzeniowski was the silver medalist in 3:38.20 while Germany's Paul Biedermann secured bronze in 3:39.88. Rosolino took fourth in 3:40.42.

The former world-record holder in the short-course version of the 50 freestyle, Great Britain's Mark Foster toppled the current record holder, France's Fred Bousquet. Foster blitzed a time of 21.27, plenty faster than the 21.47 of Bousquet. The Netherlands Johan Kenkhuis was third in 21.51 while Germany's Steffen Deibler was fourth in 21.56.

On the female side, Germany's Janne Schaefer was first in the 50 breaststroke in 30.62, slightly quicker than the 30.71 of Poland's Beata Kaminska. As for the 200 fly, gold went to Hungary's Beatrix Boulsevicz in 2:06.62. That time was easily swifter than the 2:07.12 of Denmark's Mette Jacobsen and the 2:07.52 of France's Aurore Mongel. Meanwhile, Poland went one-two in the 200 I.M. behind Katarzyna Baranowska (2:10.25) and Aleksandra Urbanczyk (2:11.11).

Brendan's Business Card Contest Entries

All people who submitted designs will receive a USA Swimming pin and a duck bill noisemaker. In addition, the maker of the card with the most votes will receive a large Texas Swimming t-shirt autographed by Brendan. Voting will stay open through December 10th.

Good Luck Everyone! Go Vote!

Cute Photo from Worlds added to Gallery

Aunt K's daughter Kristin sent me this cute photo of Brendan from Montreal and I've added it to the gallery as well as a photo of Kristin with her boyfriend Vince at the Princeton game we attended together on my trip to Havertown.



HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEATHER!

Holiday Project Updates

Just wanted to post a reminder that today is the last day for Business Card submissions. While in Austin this weekend I got an autographed Texas Swimming t-shirt from Brendan for whoever submits the best one so we'll have a little poll as soon as I can get them all online and the winner will get this lovely little bonus prize.

I've also had several folks ask about a Christmas project for Brendan and Blair suggested donations to the Leukemia Research Foundation which I think is a really lovely idea. Remember that Brendan will be notified of all donations made in his name. If any of you would also like to send cards to him then please shoot me an email and I'll be happy to forward them on. I'll be starting a new contest for Christmas and will post more details about that next week once we get the Business Card contest sorted.

Weekend Wrap-up

Texas Invitational links:
Texas Men's and Women's Swimming take second at 2005 Texas Invitational
Texas Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving in lead after second day of Texas Invitational
Men's and Women's Swimming both in second after first day of Texas Invitational
Arizona Off to Flying Start at Texas Invitational
Arizona Dominates Very Fast Day Two of Texas Invite
Arizona Sweeps Team Titles at Texas Invitational
Texas Invitational Photo Galleries at UT

US Open links:
Kirk, Hoff Take Spotlight on First Night of U.S. Open
Hoogie, Hoff Sparkle on Day 2 of US Open
Brunelli Topples Hoogie in 100 Free at U.S. Open; Hoff is Dynamic Once Again
Olympians, up-and-coming swimmers return to AU for U.S. Open
Brunelli upsets van den Hoogenband in Auburn
Flash Quotes from Day 1 of the U.S. Open
Flash Quotes from Day 2 of the U.S. Open
Flash Quotes from Day 3 of the U.S. Open

Other links of interest:
Jedrzejczak May Be Indicted for Fatal Car Crash
New Technique Tip Now Posted: Breaststroke Turn - The Elbow
Vote for Peirsol, Coughlin for Athlete of the Year

Texas Invitational Day 3

More Photos added to the Gallery tonight - lots of Aaron this time. Kinda shocking to see him beat in the 200 backstroke, yeah? When was the last time Aaron lost a 200? You can find detailed results from the final night of the Texas Invitational here.

Special thanks to Jenny, Erin and Gina. It was great finally meeting all of them and getting to sit together for the meet. Hopefully next time we can do it while cheering for Brendan. And thanks Mrs. H for keeping me company during lunch today. haha.

Texas Invitational Day 2

Mrs. H makes me sound so pitiful and alone but I'm having a great time and this evening had plenty of company. Not only were Erin and Jenny there, but surprise surprise, Brendan was there for just a short while too, looking like he should have been in bed instead. Just sayin. I arrived earlier than intended for the Evening session and caught Brendan at the tail end of a workout. I've uploaded a short video clip that includes a slow motion pull-out with dolphin kick. I've also added new photos to the gallery. Enjoy!

Day 2 Detailed Results

US Open Results

Texas Invitational Day 1

Ok, I'm sitting here in Austin with my Freebird Monster burrito (no way I can finish it) and enjoying a great view of Downtown. I have managed to kinda sorta figure out my new camera so I was able to get a few decent shots tonight that I've uploaded to the Gallery. I'm hoping everyone will just stand much more STILL tomorrow. haha. For detailed meet results you can go HERE.

Some bad news...Brendan caught a bit of a cold while out hunting for Buck and has had to withdraw from the meet. That means Kaitlin, Aaron and Ian will have to swim twice as hard and twice as fast to make it up to us, don't y'all think? And y'all join me in sending positive vibes to Brendan so he can recover quickly and get back to work.

US Open Results as well.

Happy Birthday Afadingvoice!