Beijing Bound!

Brendan earned a spot on the 2008 Olympic Team tonight by winning the 100 Breaststroke and Lala was kind enough to video his award ceremony for me...



Wheeeee!

Read more...

Brendan Hansen Punches Ticket in 100 Breast
Hansen claims Olympic berth
Hoff wins again; Hansen clinches Olympic berth

Brendan Hansen Sizzles With Meet Record in 100 Breast Semis

Getty Images


Getty Images


Getty Images


By John Lohn

OMAHA, Nebraska, June 29. THE hunter looks like he's going to shoot down himself. An avid outdoorsman, Brendan Hansen made a run at his world record in the 100 breaststroke during the second semifinal Sunday. Ultimately, he came up just short. No biggie. The final is tomorrow and a 58-point effort appears to be on the horizon.

The world-record holder in 59.13, Hansen clocked the second-fastest time in history, a 59.24 performance wowing the crowd at the Qwest Center. Hansen went out in 27.75 and blazed through the last lap en route to his 14th sub-minute outing of his career. Hansen is the only American to break a minute and owns the four-fastest times in history and five of the quickest six.

"I made a little, tiny mistake tonight," Hansen said. "I came off the wall, as I was doing my pullout, and I could hear the announcer, Sam, say that I was under world-record pace. I kind of got too excited, and the first couple of strokes I really didn't get back into my rhythm. A small mistake like that tomorrow night, I obviously won't do. I wasn't expecting to be out that fast, but this this place and this crowd the way it is, the only way I was going to get noticed tonight was if I broke a world record."

Read the complete article at Swimming World

Higher power removes Phelps from pool...

Well, he and all the other swimmers, but how's that for a headline? haha.

News reports said that no tornadoes hit Omaha, but water got into the Qwest Center, came down arena steps and onto the deck of the competition pool, according to the Associated Press.

All the swimmers were told to get out of the pools and the Qwest Center and adjoining Convention Center were closed to the public. It was uncertain if the building had sustained any damage. There were widespread power outages in Omaha because of downed power lines.

"They are assessing the building and it will be closed the remainder of the night," said a USA Swimming spokesperson.

Read more here. Swimming World Magazine has photos.

Fingers crossed there was no damage and everything will go on as planned without any more disruption.

Predictions due by start of Trials Sunday morning y'all! And don't forget to check the sidebar for broadcast times and Swimming World Magazine for full results. I'll be checking in from Omaha as I can. Wheeeee! Let's do this!

New Article from John Lohn

By JOHN LOHN
jlohn@delcotimes.com

The location of his office varies during the year, but always has a familiar look: A 50-meter rectangle of water. His workload, too, is fairly basic. Dive in, and get back to the start as quickly as possible. Brendan Hansen is a master of his craft.

Starting Sunday, the Haverford High graduate will conduct his business in Omaha, Neb., site of the United States Olympic Swimming Trials. If Hansen's blueprint is followed, he'll need to add an August trip to Beijing to his daily planner. Since returning from the Athens Olympics in 2004 with three medals, one of each color, returning to the Games has been the primary goal.

The 27-year-old is scheduled to race the 100- and 200-meter breaststrokes at the Qwest Center, where a portable pool has been constructed in a city best known for its steaks, corn and hosting the College Baseball World Series. For the next eight days, however, it will be the focal point of the swimming world.

"I'm banging my head against the wall playing the waiting game," Hansen said earlier this week. "Once the meet starts, it becomes easy. I get to do my thing. I love racing in front of 12,000 people and hearing them cheer. The hard part is waiting for it to start. Let's go already."

These Trials are the third for Hansen, internationally ranked since his high school days, when Central League dual meets were complemented by trips to Sheffield, England and Hong Kong. His previous ventures differed greatly in their results.

In 2000, Hansen left Indianapolis with a pair of third-place finishes, and agonizingly close to a bid to the Sydney Games. Only the top two finishers in each event qualify for the Olympics and hundredths of seconds separated Hansen from going as a teenager. Four years later, Hansen set a pair of world records, punched a ticket to Athens and went rainbow in Greece. He won gold as a member of the American 400 medley relay, silver in the 100 breast and bronze in the 200 breast.

This time around, Hansen's spot on Team USA is all but guaranteed. He's held the world record in the 100 breast every day since Long Beach and, until three weeks ago, the same could be said for the 200 distance.

"The experience of having done this before definitely helps," said Hansen, who has trained in Austin since leaving for the University of Texas in 2000. "I know how I need to prepare. I know what to expect. Ninety percent of the people on deck will say, 'Holy crap, I'm at the Olympic Trials.' I'm in the 10 percent that feels comfortable.

"It's crazy how different each one has been. Eight years ago, I was the punk kid on the scene. In 2004, I was the favorite, but I still had to prove myself and make the team. Now, the target is on me. It doesn't matter what I've done, I have to prove myself all over again and seize the moment. I have a chance to make the next two months the best of my life."

Hansen doesn't mince words over 2004. He went to Athens seeking gold in his individual events and was dissatisfied with his silver and bronze hardware. For Beijing, he's again targeting the top spot on the medals podium. To make that scenario a reality, Hansen will have to defeat familiar rivals.

In Omaha, the 13-time World Championships medalist shouldn't have a problem in the 100 breast. After all, he's the only American ever to break a minute, his global standard sitting at 59.13. In the 200, his toughest foe should be teammate Eric Shanteau, considered a medal contender in Beijing. Beyond Trials, Hansen is set to renew his rivalry with Japan's Kosuke Kitajima.

At the Athens Games, Kitajima swept the breaststroke events. Since, Hansen has beaten his Japanese foe in each of their head-to-head meetings, spanning two World Champs and the 2006 Pan Pacific Championships in Canada. It was Kitajima, though, who relieved Hansen of his 200 breast world record earlier this month.

"People expected me to be (ticked) about the record being broken," Hansen said. "It lit a little fire under me, but I knew I couldn't worry about it. My time was coming. I just had to wait for the opportunity to get it back and that chance is here."

If Hansen reclaims his 200 record, what he'll be wearing will be a topic. Since February, there has been much discussion over the new swimsuits in the sport, most notably the Speedo LZR Racer. The suit has been worn for 38 of the 42 world records set this year and one Italian coach has gone so far as to call it "technological doping."

Under contract with Nike since 2004, Hansen initially planned to wear the Swoosh in Omaha. Nike, however, has been unable to develop a suit that rivals the Speedo product and the company has given its athletes permission to wear another brand. Hansen, not wanting to jeopardize his chance at Olympic glory, is leaning toward wearing the Speedo suit.

Whether he's leaning toward making these his last Olympic Trials is uncertain.

"That goes day-to-day," he said. "If I go for another Olympics will be partly dictated by the next two months. I'll never be that washed-up guy who hangs on too long. But my best swimming is still ahead of me and as long as I feel that way, I'll stay in the sport. I can still be faster than I've ever been."

John Lohn is the Deputy Sports Editor of the Daily Times.

It must be an Olympic year...

My email box is full to overflowing with Junk Mail. Just so we're clear everyone...

• I don't want to exchange links with you unless you are a swimmer or cover swimming news.
• I don't sell advertising space
• I don't give away free advertising space
• I can't send you autographed photos
• I'm not Brendan

Thank you for making a note of this.

In other news - Floswimming in on FIRE and has a little Taper Talk with Ian Crocker. And you guys really need to be working on your Predictions.

Bonus: Garrett Weber-Gale FINALLY shares his recipe for Shrimp Etouffee.



For more recipes from Garrett check out gwgwims.com, baby. ;)

Prediction Contest for Trials...

The Psych sheet is out and it's that time. Who's game for a prediction contest? Now, this is probably just the first draft and they'll release a more accurate version next week but at least you guys can start thinking about your predictions.

The Rules:

For each event listed on the Psych Sheet you will list your top 3 finishers in order of finish. In case of scratches you may want to add a 4th place finisher and if one of your top three scratches the event we will drop them out and move everyone else up a spot. (meaning they don't swim the prelim either - it doesn't count if they swim the prelim and THEN scratch)

10 points - for each correct position,
6 points - if that person is in the top 3 but in a different order
3 points - if that person isn't in the top 3 but makes the final.

The person with the most points at the end will be crowned "Most Excellent Swimming Fan Evah" (or until the next contest).

The Psych Sheet.

And just to get you started here's the order of events, 26 in total...

Men's 400 IM
Women's 100 Fly
Men's 400 Free
Women's 400 IM
Men's 100 Breast
Women's 100 Back
Men's 200 Free
Women's 100 Breast
Men's 100 Back
Women's 400 Free
Women's 200 Free
Men's 200 Fly
Women's 200 IM
Men's 100 Free
Women's 200 Fly
Men's 200 Breast
Women's 100 Free
Men's 200 Back
Women's 200 Breast
Men's 200 IM
Men's 50 Free
Women's 800 Free
Men's 100 Fly
Women's 200 Back
Women's 50 Free
Men's 1500 Free

Update I: The psych sheet has already undergone it's first update so be sure to download the new version.

Update II: Swimnswain asks in the comments if top 6 relay spots can be predicted as well. My answer: go ahead and list the top 6 if you want in the relay events and I'll figure out how to award points for them. Maybe for those events I'll give 10pts. for each correct placement, 6 points if they are in the top 6 and then 3 points for the remaining 2 finishers in the final. Something like that. Anyone have a better suggestion?

Cribs with Brendan Hansen...

Another great video from Floswimming...woot!



I should do a cribs episode for myself - give y'all a tour of all 1100 square feet of Casa Michelle. You'd be welcomed by my son passed out on the sofa in the living room, the dining room table covered with 2 weeks worth of junk mail and catalogs, the hot pink sheers in my bedroom that match nothing else I own but give it a nice "red-light-district" feel when the street lights shine though them at night. No Olympic flags but I do have a painting of a robot dog with glow in the dark eyes. Yeah, yeah. Don't be jealous. Paint me a word picture of your crib.

Taper Time in Texas

Floswimming put together this nice little video with Michael Klueh and Eddie Reese. Enjoy!

Meet Caitlin Meehan....

Short article on Brendan's cousin who will also be swimming at Trials in Omaha just a couple of weeks from now.

For Caitlin, Olympic Trials will be a family affair. She says, "I am most looking forward to seeing and swimming in front of my family who will be in Omaha. My cousin is swimming in the meet as well so we have a large crowd of grandparents, parents, cousins, aunts and uncles who will be coming to see us. It's great to interact with him on deck and get his advice, and really great to have such a big cheering section." Oh and by the way, her cousin is also a breaststroker, world record holder and Olympic Gold Medalist, Brendan Hansen.

Read more and also check out photos of her from last summer's National meet in the Gallery.

Brendan's Breaststroke Races from the Texas Senior Circuit Meet

Brought to you by the lovely people at Floswimming who have had a bit of a redesign and now have embeddable video! And not only can I embed it here on my own site, but it doesn't autoplay when the page loads so I can have multiple videos on the page without them all going off at the same time. Top notch, fan friendly design from those guys as usual. Can't beat Floswimming in this fans book. Woot!


100 Breaststroke



200 Breaststroke



Magruder's facial hair is outta'control y'all. Find more video from this past weekend's meets at Floswimming's coverage page.

Brendan and Kaitlin on the Today Show

Q&A Follow-up

Last month I decided it would be interesting to follow-up with some of the swimmers that did Q and A's with us last fall and see what they are doing now that they have made their respective Olympic teams. The question I asked was...

Now that we are in the last 90 days of preparation what are you focusing on in your training and how do you feel? With the pressure of making the team now behind you and your spot secure, do you feel more confident or does it increase your anxiety?

And their answers follow:

Markus Rogan

I don't want to sound conceited, but there really wasn't any pressure to make the team. The qualifying standard for Austria is about as fast as Brendan could go with his girlfriend hanging on to his shoulders during the race.

I personally think the US team was so exceptional at World Champs in Melbourne because Trials for that meet had been 7-8 months before. I don't expect such amazing performances in Beijing because they will all have to go through the toughest Trials in history just four weeks before...

In training, I'm focusing mostly on backstroke. But I'm also working on my twistleg/wavehand combination on the dancefloor :)

Joe Bartoch

What I am working on now...just lots of kick! It's been the weakest part of my race for the longest time and has come around in the last while so we are having one last push with that before we get into the last stage of preparation - race prep, hahaha. For that we are tweaking my start and my turn and continuously working on my finish.

Now that I have made the team - seems like there's a void there, my whole life and last couple years especially where focused on JUST MAKING the team. Now the goal is to make the final. It was tough to come off Trials after making the team and making a new goal in such a short period of time because nothing will come close to the original goal that was all consuming for the past 4 years - to make the team. It's hard to explain, I hope you understand...just accomplishing making the team, leaves you with the WHAT'S NEXT? syndrome I guess. It will take time to make a new goal or maybe there won't be one as big as that ever? Who knows? I guess thats why a lot of people retire after making the Olympics. (As for me, I am going to wait until after the Olympics and see if I want to set another huge goal for myself or not - a world record would be sweet, but I dunno Phelps is gonna smoke the 50.40 for sure seeing as he went 50.9 this weekend!)

Christian Sprenger

Obviously everyone would be amazed at how fast the Olympics is approaching, and right now is time I'm really pushing the hard work, and technical side of things. As this will be my first Olympics, I don't really know what to expect, but I do know that I'll have to train hard if I want to be in the mix!

I will have to say that my first thoughts after making the team, was that the pressure was off.. But after all is said and done, that was just the beginning.. I had put my mind and body into our trials, that I hadn't thought beyond that. But it was soon after the hype had settled down, that I was ready to make new goals!

Duje Draganja

I am feeling the same as before. Olympic games are an special event but for me it is just another meet in the row in which, like in any other meet. I will be aiming to swim my best personal time and only God knows where that time will take me.

For a couple of the guys I took the opportunity to ask an additional question...

Joe Bartoch

BHO: How do you feel about the Canadian team uniforms? I kinda dig them, especially the t-shirts, but those warm-ups are pretty controversial.

Joe: As for the Uniforms, there's some cool stuff and some weird unique stuff. I don't really have an opinion, hahaha. I think we will stand out which will be good, but lucky for us we get Speedo clothing as well. Other teams hate us for that because at other multi-sport games if the clothing was bogus we just went with the Speedo stuff, hahaha. You can always count on the Speedo gear!

Christian Sprenger

BHO: How do you feel about the whole Vegemite controversy?

Christian: Haha, well, I won't deny that I enjoy vegemite on toast! But If that is the case, I won't have a problem with going without it for a little while, haha.

And finally, a special question for Gary Hall, Jr. who didn't participate in the Q&A Series (but then later made the mistake of friending me on Facebook)

BHO: Why does USA Swimming wait so late to have it's Olympic Trials and how is your training going?

GHJ: The decision is made by people that don't swim, NBC executives, the same that dictate morning finals. What's good for ratings is not good for swimmers.

My training is good. I feel like I have a chance to make the Olympic team if I swim well at our Olympic trials.

I really want to thank all the athletes who took time to do the original Q&A's for us and now the follow-up and wish them all the best in Beijing. I wish our swimmers here in the United States were already finished with their Trials and now preparing for the Games as well. I can't help but think it handicaps our chances to have so little time in between to recover and refocus.

That said, I'm getting so excited for our Trials coming up in just a few weeks now and it's been hard to look past that and on to the Olympics but talking to these guys who have already passed that first hurdle has got me thinking more about it. Less than 60 days to go now...

Kitajima sets new 200m breaststroke world record

Japan's double Olympic champion Kosuke Kitajima has shattered the men's world 200 metres breaststroke record in a domestic competition, a warm-up to the Beijing Games in August.

The 25-year-old Japanese, wearing Speedo's record-breaking LZR Racer swimsuit, clocked two minutes and 07.51 seconds, 0.99 faster than American Brendan Hansen's two-year-old world mark.

Kitajima was wearing the high-tech British swimwear for the first time in competition throughout the three-day Japan Open contest.

He had already smashed his own 50m and 100m national records at the same event.

A dozen national records have been broken at the competition by swimmers wearing the specialised swimsuit.

Craig Lord at SwimNews has an article with quotes from Kitajima...

Kitajima punched the air with delight after breaking the record, according to agency reports. He emerged to say: 'I feel like crying. I owe the world record to my ability, while the swimsuit also played a good role. I was confident of setting a record before racing today. I thank the Japanese swimwear maker and the swimming federation for giving me an opportunity to test the Speedo swimsuit.'

In Tokyo, Kitajima has worn a t-shirt proclaiming in English, Japanese and Chinese: 'I am the swimmer'. In other words - I have a right to choose because I am the one who has to deliver.

Kitajima added: 'I will forget about the world record for now ahead of the Olympics and will go out fighting as if I am a challenger. For the Olympics, I only have the gold medals on my mind. I won't come home if I don't get them.'

100 Breaststroke Results...

Finals:

1 Spann, Scott 1:01.18
2 Hansen, Brendan 1:01.48
3 Lowe, Matthew 1:03.12
4 Mahoney, Sean R 1:03.17
5 Magruder, Agust 1:03.41
6 Plevelj, Grega 1:04.44
7 Jacobo, Alejand 1:04.66
8 Merritt, Jerr 1:05.32

Prelims:

1 Hansen, Brendan 1:02.10
2 Lowe, Matthew 1:03.17
3 Spann, Scott 1:03.96
4 Magruder, Agust 1:04.37
5 Plevelj, Grega 1:04.59
6 Mahoney, Sean R 1:04.81
7 Jacobo, Alejand 1:04.91
8 Merritt, Jerr 1:05.27

Full Results Here

200 Breaststroke Results

Finals:

1 Spann, Scott 2:11.35
2 Hansen, Brendan 2:13.15
3 Mahoney, Sean R 2:14.47
4 Magruder, Agust 2:15.87
5 Lowe, Matthew 2:18.69
6 Andara, Leopold 2:20.92
7 Hensley, Kevin 2:24.25
8 Johnson, Mitche 2:24.96

Prelims:

1 Hansen, Brendan 2:15.90
2 Lowe, Matthew 2:19.56
3 Mahoney, Sean R 2:20.56
4 Andara, Leopold 2:20.58
5 Spann, Scott 2:20.60
6 Magruder, Agust 2:21.20
7 Johnson, Mitche 2:23.61
8 Hensley, Kevin 2:24.62

Full results here.

Texas Senior Circuit Meet in Austin this weekend

I haven't seen a psych sheet but I believe Brendan will be swimming the breaststroke events. If you are in the area you should definitely go check it out, and follow that by sending me photos and emails . Results will be available here.

Also, our favorite intrepid reporter John Lohn has posted his 100m Breaststroke Preview at SWM. Go check it out and leave a comment on the article. Something along the lines of "Brendan for Gold!" would be nice.

Two new photos of Brendan and his dog Henry in the Gallery as well...

Right-side-up...



And upside-down

Today Show - June 10th

Mark your calendars and set your TIVO. Brendan will be on the Today Show with Kaitlin Sandeno one week from today - Tuesday, June 10th. Check your schedules for broadcast times in your area. While looking for their broadcast schedule I ran across this lovely video of Olympic athletes discussing their favorite Chinese foods and it includes a few swimmers so enjoy.

ALSO, Timed Prelims has a hilarious interview with Glenn Mills up that has a few Brendan mentions in it.

And David Cromwell ALMOST does the right thing in his Top 5 Tattoos in Swimming column. He shows a photo of Brendan's Olympic Rings in the number 1 position, but then shares the honor will all Olympic swimmers who have the rings. While I'm as Kumbaya as the next hippie about Olympians I must protest just a little. David fails to recognize that it's not just about the ink, but the skin it's on and of course the placement that highlights his perfect shoulders making him stand alone at numero uno! (I'm sure you'll all agree with me on that. ;))