Go Swim Video ~ Breaststroke with Brendan Hansen

Is he number one... or is he John Travolta? you decide!


Just when we thought there was no Brendan News...
Glenn Mills at Go Swim has completed his video Breaststroke with Brendan Hansen. He also has a fantastic trailer with a little bit of technique and a whole lot of fun. Click here to watch the trailer! You can order your own copy of the video by clicking the image of the cover in the side bar. We have been waiting a long time for this video, and I watched the trailer again and again! Really fun stuff! If Underwater Boogie was an Olympic event, we'd have our Gold medalist. Move over Apolo!

Thank you Glenn!

Back to School?

No Brendan news to be found, but a lot of folks are getting back from summer vacations and getting ready to get back to work and school. So before everyone goes back to school, check in and let us know whose colors you will be flying next year. Some of you graduated and some of you finally chose where you would be planning your matriculation. Let's hear from ya!

The collegiate Swimming season is upon us as well. So make sure you support your local swim team. This year's coed might just be next year's Olympian.

Longhorns - Beijing Bound

There is a really cool article out there at The Statesman.com that speaks of the Olympic hopeful Texas exes and current UT athletes. Well, in such an article there has to be a few mentions of our own B Hansen. The article was posted on the date marking one year until the games begin in Beijing in Aug 8, 2008.

It speaks of the break a lot of the athletes are taking before the crunch begins.

.
Brendan Hansen

Austin connection: Texas ex lives and trains in Austin.

Olympic outlook: Almost a lock: At Beijing, Hansen should continue his rivalry with Japanese swimmer Kosuke Kitajima in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke and win at least one individual gold.

"The Olympics are our Super Bowl," said 2004 Olympic gold, silver and bronze medalist Brendan Hansen. "You don't want to have any what-ifs. You don't want to look back and say, 'What if I'd trained harder or not done that?' The stress is already starting to build, but everyone is excited and most of us are ready to get strapped in for the ride."

While Texas exes Crocker, Hansen, Aaron Peirsol and Neil Walker are among the most experienced Olympic candidates, they count as many as 10 swimmers from their local training group who could make the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.
Hansen already had one vacation this year. In May, he and brother Sean went duck and dove hunting with the Reese brothers, Eddie and Randy, in Argentina, at a lodge about 100 miles south of Buenos Aires.

Currently, Hansen is driving around this country and will be going from Philadelphia to Austin, looking up old friends along the way. "I'll say hello and then 'Goodbye, I won't be seeing you for a year and a half,' " Hansen joked.

Later this year, he'll forgo a trip home for Thanksgiving and trim Christmas break to three days. "You lose your feel for the water extremely fast and you don't want to do that this year," Hansen said. "In an Olympic year, you highlight everything that will help you swim fast."

You should read the whole article, it is really interesting how many Olympic athletes and coaches are based at UT. In 2004 a third of the men's swim team was a Longhorn. You may have to register to see the original article, but it is worth it and they don't spam. And there is a Super!cute picture of Brendan that accompanies the article!

Thanks for the link Jenny!

Since we are in the birthday mood, let's wish a Big Happy Birthday to Cutie McHottie - Sean Hansen! He turned 29 on the 16th! Laura shares that BDay with him so Happy Birthday Sean and Laura!

Happy 26th!

Its Brendan's Birthday everyone. How time flies. He is now beginning his big crunch year leading up to Olympic trials and the Beijing Games.

OOh and special for Brendan's birthday, (well maybe not for that actually but very well timed) Swimming World Magazine posted this article going over the fact that only three men in history have swam sub one minute in the 100 breaststroke. Out of 20 times the barrier has been broken, B Han has done it 11 times! These are quoted statistics from that article:

100 Breaststroke (Sub-Minute Performances)
Name Country Site Date Time
Brendan Hansen USA Irvine, Calif. Aug. 1, 2006 59.13
Brendan Hansen USA Long Beach, Calif. July 8, 2004 59.30
Brendan Hansen USA Montreal July 25, 2005 59.37
Brendan Hansen USA Irvine, Calif. Aug. 2, 2005 59.51
Kosuke Kitajima Japan Montreal July 25, 2005 59.53
Brendan Hansen USA Indianapolis Aug. 3, 2007 59.59
Kosuke Kitajima Japan Montreal July 24, 2005 59.71
Brendan Hansen USA Montreal July 24, 2005 59.75
Kosuke Kitajima Japan Montreal July 24, 2005 59.78
Kosuke Kitajima Japan Barcelona July 21, 2003 59.78
Brendan Hansen USA Melbourne March 26, 2007 59.80
Brendan Hansen USA Montreal July 24, 2005 59.84
Brendan Hansen USA Irvine, Calif. Aug. 1, 2006 59.87
Brendan Hansen USA Victoria, Canada Aug. 18, 2006 59.90
Roman Sloudnov Russia Fukuoka, Japan July 24, 2001 59.94
Kosuke Kitajima Japan Melbourne March 26, 2007 59.96
Kosuke Kitajima Japan Melbourne March 25, 2007 59.96
Roman Sloudnov Russia Moscow June 29, 2001 59.97
Brendan Hansen USA Indianapolis Aug. 3, 2007 59.98
Kosuke Kitajima Japan Barcelona July 20, 2003 59.98

So I while I was looking for news I found this interview from when he was in Mondavi, Italy last year. The translation is hilarious so I have to share it.

Brendan Hansen is told
Interview to the world-wide champion of the frog


Mondovi' - the eighth edition of the International Meeting of Swim City of carried out Mondovi' the 22-23 you open them past, organized from the Libertas Mondovi', enriched from the presence of many big Italian and foreign which Pippo Magnini, Roland Schoeman, Salem Iles, Jennipher Thompson and Brendan Hansen have given the possibility to us to meet the champion and primatista of the 200 world of 100 and frog, the Brendan American Hansen. Having passed with he two entire days, it is to edge bathtub that to supper, we have been able to appreciate its dowries of likeable boy, always ready to the joke, but also extremely serious, determined and scrupulous in the allenementi you always turn to the attainment of the maximum in order to try to improve itself constantly.

Hello Brendan, thanks for your availability. How six approached the swim and which age to you?
I have begun to swim to the age of four years, because my parents have pushed to me in water to swim, and from that day I have continued, also because I love to be in water.


It tells one your day to me type of training. Which are the aspects of the training that you prefer and those that they weigh to you mainly?
I raise myself to the 6,30 of the mattino, from the 7 to the 9 I train in bathtub swimming all the styles, then I go in arena to make weights from the 13 the 15 and from the 15 to the 17 anchor training in water in an olympic swimming pool from 50 meters, then I go to house and to rest. The thing that it appeals to to me tantissimo is to train with my friends the olympic champions to me Aaron Peirsol, Neil Walker, Ian Crocker, that one that hung to me more is the training in if, decidedly boring.
Which is your better quality and peggior the defect? My friends say that they are a lot amusing and likeable, make to laugh. I do not know which defect, also because my friends me do not find any; they are perfect, (n.d.r. says it joking).

To outside of the swim and the study, which are yours hobbyes?
I love to go hunting and to peach I have also a dog, but it appeals to also the bicycle to me and to exit with the friends to amuse to me.

Six satisfied of the slid season culminated with the title world-wide it in 100 and 200 frog to Montreal?

Totally they have been satisfied of the slid season with the gold gained in 100 and 200 frog to the World-wide ones. I think the end of the 100 frog the best one having struck the Katajima Japanese, than it had preceded to me to Giochi di Atene, although two months before you had established the supremacy of the world to Long Beach. This Victoria wanted to us, it has been one rivincita and are successful to obtain it because second me they are successful to train best to me and I have believed to us until in bottom.

Which is your relationship with your society the Club Longhorn Aquatics and the technician Eddy Reese?
My trainer is like a father for me, in how much my parents live in Pennsylvania, while I train myself in Texas, feel much the lack also because I see two times to them alone the year, therefore the trainer and the society is my family in Texas.

Your relationship with the companions of square of National the USA?
Aaron Peirsol is my better friend. The boys of the national one train themselves in various places of the United States. Every time that we find again ourselves, we feel a great group of friends, we amuse ourselves together, we are well and we share the same experience.

Which are yours object you for this season, and in perspective for the Games of Beijing 2008?
The more important appointment to short is the Pacific Pan games in program to August and obviously the objective is that one to improve the record of the world in 100 and 200 frog. The in the mid term perspective is that one to gain all the medals of gold to the World-wide ones of Melbourne 2007 and Olympic Giochi of Beijing 2008. I am working a lot hardly and seriously in bathtub just in order to center all this.

In last the two very many years six improved from the cronometrico point of view, establishing the records of world 59,30 on the 100 frog and 2.09.04 on the 200. Where you think of being able to improve ulteriorly on the short one or the double distance? Which contest you prefer?
Task to improve ulteriorly on the double distance, contest that is my preferred one.

A your judgment on the Italian swim, as it judges turns out you of Montreal 2005 and Shanghai 2006 for the blueta? Which athletes you know?
I have not participated and not followed the World-wide ones of Shanghai. To Montreal the test of Pippo Magnini has been much entusiasmante, has demonstrated of being able to carry the blue swim to highest international levels. The blue swimmer that I know better is just Filippo.

E' before the time that you swam in Italy? What appeals to you of our country?
E' before the time that I come in Italy to swim to Mondovi. It appeals to the red wine to me, appeals to people very to me, always much cordial, you are simpati to us and available, quality that I appreciate truly a lot. I feel also a po' Italian, my maternal grandfathers make Savini of last name and are original of the Abruzzi.



It appeals to this created formula to you to the Meeting di Mondovì to bind together the young swimmers to the big with the final involvement of all in the staffettone, rising of passage of witness between the swim of the future and the champions it asserts to you, in this great festivity of the swim?
, extraordinary what is one because it promotes the swim, these children swims to flank of world-wide champions when tomorrow between they us it could be an asserted champion.

Brendan thanks for your enormous sympathy and availability.
Thanks to you, hello.

THE BRENDAN CARD HANSEN

Brendan Hansen is been born 15 August 1981 to Havertown in Pennsylvania. High E' 1,83 cm and hung 83 kg. It studies in the college of the University of Texas to Austin. Its hobbyes are hunting and peach. He has others two siblings swimmers, the brother greater Sean, and the smaller sister Megan who swims for the Southern Connecticut.
He brings to light himself to 19 years in 2000 to the Trias Americans reaches third party is in the 100 that in the 200 frog.
It makes part of National the USA from 2000. In its most prestigious agonistica career he boasts seven supremacies of the world, two established in July 2004 to Long Beach on 100 and 200 frog and five obtained in the mixed couriers 4x100. Giochi has collezionato 14 medals in the great international competitions which Olympic and It samples to you World-wide.

After this article was written Brendan lowered the World standard in the 100 Breast once and the 200 twice.

Here's to Brendan seeing all his birthday wishes come true!

New USA Swimming Podcast

Brendan and some other team USA favorites are featured in the new podcast from USA Swimming. Fun stuff you guys.


Click HERE!

Thanks for the heads up on that Jason!

So.... anyone going to Olympic Trials?

More Peter Bick Photos and Predictions Winnah!

Eddie Reese and Brendan Hansen

We really do have something special with Peter Bick. He sent more of his photos for the 2007 US Gallery



Caitlin Meehan

Big predictions winner was AIMS!! She is holds the crown for being the best picker. She actually chose the top three more than once. No small feat. (but tiny little feet.)

Aims 503 <----winner
Timmay 491
Jessi 481
AnnLyn 468
lala 460
Jessie 449
Amdrea 449
blair 405 <----loser


I have missed a few birthdays while I was out and about so let's all wish a big Happy Birthday to:
guppy23 - August 1st
DanaJHD - August 6th
Angie - August 6th
Janine - August 8th

Thanks again Peter and Congrats Aims!

Personal Best in 200 IM

Watching Brendan walk out in the championship for the 200 IM was so much fun! I hope you all got a chance to see it. From what I could see from the screens, the live coverage looked great. He came in to this meet with a personal best time of
2:05.21 and left it more than two and a half seconds faster.

1. LOCHTE Ryan 84 DBS-FL 0.71 25.60 54.36 1:28.26 1:56.95
2. SHANTEAU Eric 83 TXLAST 0.76 26.75 57.70 1:31.07 1:59.56
3. CASS Nate 87 STANPC 0.73 26.22 57.58 1:31.72 2:02.09
4. RATHGEBER Geoff 85 SNCOCT 0.67 26.47 57.75 1:32.89 2:02.42
5. HANSEN Brendan 81 TXLAST 0.75 26.28 57.63 1:31.78 2:02.89
6. PATRICK T P 85 IUCPIN 0.75 25.96 57.09 1:34.28 2:02.95
7. CLARY Tyler 89 FASTCA 0.63 26.50 57.00 1:34.77 2:03.49
8. MOLINA Miguel 84 TROJCA 0.70 26.24 58.35 1:34.87 2:04.55

This was pretty cool. We view him as a breastroker... No limits.

Nationals was really fun and I want to thank the H's for all the fun. (The Gpeeps are even sweeter than expected!)

Two Championship titles and a personal best. Congratulations Brendan!

Brendan takes on the field in 200 IM

I had no idea Brendan would be ranking as highly as he did this morning in the 200 IM. He swam in the final and fastest heat and finished in 4th with a 6th overall ranking.

1. SHANTEAU Eric 83 TXLAST 0.76 26.86 58.28 1:31.82 2:01.74
2. RATHGEBER Geoff 85 SNCOCT 0.69 26.53 57.69 1:33.25 2:03.03
3. CLARY Tyler 89 FASTCA 0.64 26.77 56.98 1:34.48 2:03.35
4. LOCHTE Ryan 84 DBS−FL 0.73 25.89 55.06 1:31.69 2:03.36
5. CASS Nate 87 STANPC 0.76 26.61 58.44 1:33.33 2:03.64
6. HANSEN Brendan 81 TXLAST 0.76 26.54 58.33 1:33.05 2:03.71
7. PATRICK T P 85 IUCPIN 0.72 26.23 57.59 1:34.92 2:04.26
8. MOLINA Miguel 84 TROJCA 0.73 26.79 58.95 1:35.20 2:04.30

The IM looked great, but you can check that out for yourselves tonight .

You can follow the meet live, either on Omega Timing or you can Watch the video feed direct and LIVE from IUPUI Natatorium at USA Swimming! The finals starts at 6pm. It's a special opportunity to see him race an IM, and in the Championship final no less!! Go Brendan!

Oh hang around and wait for the relays, as Bren's cousin Caitlin Meehan will be swimming the breaststroke leg of her teams Medley relay squad. Go Caitlin!

Fastest 100 Breaststroke of 2007! National Champ- Brendan Hansen

Tonight Brendan swam the fastest 100 breaststroke of the year beating his previous mark of 59.80!
Mark Gangloff gave Brendan a good race, but couldn't beat him in the end.

1. HANSEN Brendan 81 TXLAST 0.69 27.99 59.59
2. GANGLOFF Mark 82 MAC-NC 0.73 27.90 1:00.43
3. SHANTEAU Eric 83 TXLAST 0.71 29.24 1:01.50
4. ALEXANDROV Mike 85 WILDIL 0.80 28.59 1:01.79
5. ROBERTS Jon 87 MINNMN 0.71 28.48 1:02.17
6. CASS Nate 87 STANPC 0.70 29.29 1:02.48
7. VIETTI Will 86 WA-KY 0.73 29.44 1:02.56
8. CRISTE John 89 MVN-CA 0.77 29.34 1:03.42

I saw this hilarious quote in this article: "Well, this week at the ConocoPhillips USA Swimming Championships at the Natatorium at IUPUI -- our slogan, 'If you can breathe here, you can breathe in Beijing'"
I thought I'd die. So funny and couldn't be truer. Once they got huge fans and to suck and blow air from the natatorium I was feeling a lot better, I hope it helped the athletes too. It didn't seem to stand in Brendan's way tonight. I really enjoyed myself.
Congratulations and thanks Brendan!

I really hope you all are watching the coverage. There have been some unexpected outcomes and some new faces on the podium.

All the photos today were supplied by our fabulous Peter Bick. They are so great and I love them! And Peter too!


BIG HUG! (thanks Peter!)

There are many more like these to be found in 2007 Nationals Gallery



Brent Rutemiller, Brendan Hansen and MrH
A great night!

WHAT?!

Brendan went the third fastest time in the world this year in the 100 breaststroke....... In the Prelims?!


Yep.

1. HANSEN Brendan 81 TXLAST 0.70 28.19 59.98
2. GANGLOFF Mark 82 MAC-NC 0.73 28.39 1:01.07
3. ALEXANDROV Mike 85 WILDIL 0.75 28.66 1:01.51
4. SHANTEAU Eric 83 TXLAST 0.71 29.30 1:01.57
5. ROBERTS Jon 87 MINNMN 0.72 28.75 1:01.80
6. CASS Nate 87 STANPC 0.72 29.04 1:02.09
7. CRISTE John 89 MVN-CA 0.82 29.35 1:02.64
8. VIETTI Will 86 WA-KY 0.71 29.51 1:02.75

You can follow the meet tonight live either on Omega Timing or you can Watch the video feed direct and LIVE from IUPUI Natatorium at USA Swimming! The Men's Breaststroke event starts at 6:55 but tune in when the broadcast begins at 6pm. Should be HOT!

Oh, and as a side note... Cousin Caitlin Meehan made her second trial cut today in the Women's 100 Breaststroke by turning out a 1:12.51!

Have fun tonight B!

2007 National 200 Breaststroke Champion -Brendan Hansen!

Tonight Brendan raced to maintain his title of National Champion and did it with a time of 2:09.90. Great job Brendan!

1. HANSEN Brendan 81 TXLAST 0.71 29.17 1:02.30 1:35.60 2:09.91
2. SHANTEAU Eric 83 TXLAST 0.73 29.75 1:02.88 1:36.52 2:10.65
3. BREE Andrew 81 TENNSE 0.80 29.87 1:03.41 1:37.52 2:13.15
4. VERSFELD Neil 85 ABSCGA 0.74 30.20 1:04.28 1:38.19 2:13.44
5. ZAICH Paul 86 STANPC 0.87 30.18 1:03.98 1:38.24 2:13.52
6. USHER Scott 83 BA-IN 0.82 30.18 1:04.27 1:38.54 2:14.62
7. MAHONEY Sean 88 TERAPC 0.86 30.36 1:04.60 1:39.56 2:15.36
8. SPANN Scott 88 CW-MI 0.68 29.47 1:02.83 1:38.61 2:15.70

When we went in to the pool today we were all complaining about difficulty breathing. Our eyes were burning and it was really uncomfortable in the natatorium. I didn't even think of the difficulties that was putting on the athletes.
In this article in USA Today, they spoke of this problem.

"The air quality is horrendous," Hansen said after his race. "You expect to come to a really good facility and you've got guys saying, 'Don't go to the warmdown pool because you won't be able to breathe.'"

Facility officials were working Tuesday on problems with the air outtake system in the natatorium.

Hansen was expected to finish comfortably in front of the field. Instead, he got a last-lap challenge from Longhorn Aquatics teammate Eric Shanteau, who finished in 2:10.65.

"That was probably one of the hardest 200 breaststrokes I've ever done," Hansen said.

In the women's 800-meter freestyle, world champion Kate Ziegler held off fellow teen sensation Katie Hoff in the first of their three showdowns this week. They'll meet in the 400 free on Thursday and the 200 free on Friday.

Ziegler also had trouble breathing.

"I have asthma as it is, so I dove in and suddenly I couldn't breathe," she said.

Brendan may have felt difficulty, but he sure made it look easy. I am still coughing from being at that pool hours after leaving. Hopefully they will have the trouble fixed before Brendan swims the 100 Breast on Friday.


Brendan's cousin Caitlin Meehan beat her best tonight in her 200 Breast race and proved that her Olympic Trials cut wasn't a fluke. She finished with a 2:33.78.



Congraulations to both Brendan and Caitlin!