Nothing says holiday weekend like new Fan Art!!!!

Wheeeeeeeeee!

These are all from Heidi, an "avid Brendan Hansen fan", as is the new wallpaper featured on the home page. And tomorrow there will be a new fan video from Alexandra so y'all be sure to check back then as well!

<----- Michelle's favorite.

Hansen brings golden shine to Human Race

By: Ricky Doyle

RICKY DOYLE: All right, welcome back to Carrozza's Corner. We are raising the star power a little bit this week. We've got Brendan Hansen joining Paul and just back from the Olympics. We've got to ask you first of all your experience, you come home with another gold medal on that winning U.S. relay team, I mean, how was it over there?

BRENDAN HANSEN: It was awesome. It was a great time. You just take the minute there and you kind of compare Athens to Beijing and Beijing really blew Athens out of the water. I mean they spent $300 Million Dollars on their opening ceremonies. They proved themselves as a country with these games and they took it very seriously and it showed in all of their venues. It showed with the way they came out there and performed and they just made it real easy for athletes to do their best and that's what the Olympics are all about.

DOYLE: Sure. All right. Well we know swimming is what you're good at, but now we're taking you out of the pool and putting you on the road for the Nike Plus Human Race that's coming up Sunday, so one last chance for people to sign up, but you're going to be running in the race. How are you on the road? What can people expect to see you out there running?

HANSEN: You're going to see a breaststroker running is what they're going to see. We just talked about what kind of shoes I was going to wear and I said just put shoes on a duck is kind of the slogan we've got going on here so we're just...we're excited about it. I've only trained for about two weeks after the relay and it's just going to be a great event in Austin. It's going to be a great event all around the world and it's for a good cause so I'm excited about it, I'm looking forward to running the best that I can, but at the same time I want to finish and hopefully dealing with the heat around here in Austin which I'm not used to for the last two months, I'll be ready for it.

DOYLE: And Paul we've been talking about this race for a while, but this is really cool for people to get to run with an Olympic gold medallist out there, Lance Armstrong out there, I mean what a fun event for people.

CARROZZA: Well, the timing's perfect 'cause they were on a global platform and to have them real and live and they can run with them and that's what so great about running is that it pulls everybody together and Nike Plus they've done such a good job and they've got such great athletes that compete for Nike so they're putting all of their resources together and we're lucky that Austin is one of the cities, the four cities in the nation that got picked to host one.

DOYLE: Brendan, do you have any predictions. Have you had a chance to talk to Lance and can you take him down maybe?

HANSEN: Yeah, I'm going to take Lane out in the first 100 meters and then I'm going to fall back and find a slow partner. No, I think...actually I haven't had a chance to ever meet him so it will be a chance for me to meet him for the first time and like Paul was saying you know Austin is such a running base town and I'm so glad that Nike chose Austin as one of their sites and you know Nike doesn't like to be second in anything so you know if you're going to be a part of this race you're going to be part of something, part of history probably and what a great transition from the Olympics to put a world event like this on and get running in the spotlight and get everyone excited about it. So we're excited about it.

DOYLE: And we should mention also Aaron Peirsol, who was also on that gold medal winning relay team with you. He's going to be out there. He can't run, but he'll be on hand for the event as well.

HANSEN: Yeah he's probably going to be commentating the race and telling everybody each mile how I'm doing. We were talking about this and I don't think people have ever seen me sweat so I'm pretty sure with the heat out there you're going to see me sweating a few pounds off.

DOYLE: It's good. We'll get you out of your element.

CARROZZA: It might look like you just got out of the pool.

HANSEN: That's true. Hopefully it's not that bad.

CARROZZA: He'll be the guy with the cap and goggles on.

HANSEN: Yeah, but it'll be exciting.

DOYLE: And Paul, not too late for people to sign up. I mean the race is Sunday evening and the concert afterwards so if people are listening to this and they want to do it they can still...

CARROZZA: Come out to the 24 Hour Fitness at the Hancock Center on Friday and Saturday.

DOYLE: And that's where the expo is.

CARROZZA: Yep.

DOYLE: All right. You can go to runtex.com. Also don't forget they've got all the races that are coming up out there, but this is the one to check out if you want to do it and also don't forget you can send us emails to run@news8austin.com.

American Olympians

From ESPN columnist Pat Forde...

Three Yanks who ennobled the Games by their actions:

Gold: David Neville (22). His headfirst dive to the finish line for bronze in the 400-meter track final was the living symbol of how badly someone can want a medal. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy, and it completed an American sweep of the event -- a rare triumphant moment for the U.S. at the track venue.

Silver: Brendan Hansen (23). America's best breaststroker had a brutal summer -- he failed to make the Olympic team in the 200 breast and failed to win a medal in the 100, an event in which he held the world record. After finishing fourth and watching bitter rival Kosuke Kitajima of Japan win the gold and take his world record, Hansen could have quickly exited the pool and left the painful scene. Instead, he crossed two lanes to congratulate Kitajima. That's class.

Bronze: Jessica Mendoza (24). The softball left fielder was crushed when the U.S. was stunned by Japan in the gold-medal game, but she overcame it for the greater cause of Olympic softball. She quickly organized the Japanese and bronze medalist Australia to place softballs in the shape of the numbers "2016" in the infield, then had the teams pose behind them. The point: to bring back softball, which is being booted from the Olympics in part because of -- oops -- American dominance.

Another great video from Alexandra in Hungary

sniff sniff

U.S. medley relay team looks ahead

U.S. medley relay team looks ahead

Hansen hinted that next year's World Championships in Rome might be his curtain call, a special occasion for his many family members with an Italian background.

"I just don't want my last race to be the 100," he said of the 100 breaststroke, in which he finished fourth, missing a medal by 0.20 seconds.

"[Kosuke] Kitajima said he's going into retirement. There's nothing like getting a guy out of retirement than breaking his world records."

Hansen repeated something he had said earlier, comparing Phelps' accomplishment to sinking a pressure putt to win the U.S. Open, the Tour de France and knocking out Ali -- all in the same week.

"He's not worried about winning eight medals," Hansen said of Phelps.

Hansen was off and running. Teammates, he said, had been looking at Phelps without being too obvious, wondering how he was handling the pressure of trying to win the record eight gold medals. Phelps seemed oblivious to all such stress, saying, "'Man, the pizza's good today,'" Hansen reported.

This didn't stop Hansen from trying on Saturday night, just hours before the medley relay, to reassure Phelps.

Or maybe just reassure himself.

Hansen had visited Phelps' room in the athletes' village, and retold the conversation on Sunday afternoon following a news conference at the Main Press Center here.

Hansen had noticed -- who couldn't -- that Phelps' seven gold medals were hanging up in his room. Hansen described them as like "wind chimes."

"'I said, 'Michael, I won't let you down tomorrow, man,'" Hansen said. "'We're going to do this relay and we're going to do it right. We'll make this thing happen.'

"I said, 'Michael, if you make your eighth, it doesn't matter what you do from here. Nobody can ever take that away from you. And it doesn't matter if somebody says, 'Well, what about nine? You will never have to prove yourself again."

And Phelps' reaction?

"He just shook his head like, 'I can't believe this is happening.'"

Phelps ... and everyone else.

Will Michael Phelps's Teammates Cash In?

Jason Lezak, Aaron Peirsol and Brendan Hansen are able to bask in the idea that they contributed to Phelps' success and brought home gold medals of their own. Also, they are going to be able to benefit financially.

"Michael Phelps's glory will only rub off on his teammates and they will benefit in endorsement deals and speaking engagements," a top media agent tells MainStreet. The agent also noted how "the four of them together created a national profile of a sport that was never a sport. The world will turn to see the sequel in London in 2012 and the teammates' profiles will be raised when Phelps won't be as prevalent as he was in Beijing."

Story behind the flag carried by Brendan, Aaron, Jason and Mike...

Larsen Jensen wrote an open letter to the USA Swimming community and shares this bit of information about the flag carried by the 4x100 Medley Relay on the podium and afterwards...

A few days ago I received an American Flag and accompanying Flag Citation from Navy Special Operations Task Force - West, Camp Shane Patton, Fallujah, Iraq. I was hoping to personally carry that flag around the pool; but that wasn't in the cards.

However, that flag was carried around the pool by Aaron Peirsol, Brendan Hansen, Michael Phelps, and Jason Lezak for the awards ceremony of the 400 Medley Relay.

They are great Americans and they carried that flag to make all of you proud-they did a damn good job. This team has made me proud by their grace in victory and poise in defeat. A man could never ask for a finer group of men and women to be associated with than our USA Olympians.

You can read the entire letter at Swimming World Magazine.

Brendan wins Gold as part of 4x100 Medley Relay

Hansen helps Phelps make it Great 8

By: John Lohn
08/16/2008

BEIJING - As the Water Cube rocked, its 17,000 fans on their feet applauding an historical feat that may never be broken, Michael Phelps embraced his teammates on the American 400-meter medley relay - Brendan Hansen, Aaron Peirsol and Jason Lezak.
History had been made.

After nine days of racing, grinding work that covered 17 races and 3,300 meters, Phelps was able to rest. He was allowed a deep breath, an exhale that his four-year journey - beginning just after the Athens Games - was complete. He was, per the target all along, able to call himself the greatest Olympian in history, for these Games and for all-time.

Producing a world-record time of 3:29.34, the United States got to the wall in front of an Australian team that served as the final roadblock in Phelps' monumental quest. Like all other obstacles, this one was also cleared. The relay triumph gave Phelps his eighth gold medal and seventh world record of the Games.

"I'm at a loss for words," Phelps said. "These guys were amazing and made it possible. It shows how much teamwork and togetherness we have. The whole thing, from winning by a hundredth of a second to finishing it off with a world record, it's an amazing experience and something I'll have forever. I literally wanted to do something that no one's ever done before in the sport. Without the help of my teammates, it wouldn't have been possible."

Hansen, a Haverford High graduate, played an integral role in Phelps' crowning moment. The fourth-place finisher in the 100 breaststroke earlier in the week, Hansen collected the fourth medal of his Olympic career by handling the breaststroke leg. The United States' gold medal eased some of the sting of what Hansen has called a difficult year.

As for Phelps, he wrapped up one of the greatest performances in sports history, an eight-medal haul that made him the most decorated Olympian in a single Games and drove his career medal totals to 14 gold - a record - and 16 overall, the most by a male. At the 2012 Games in London, Phelps should pass Russian gymnast Larissa Latynina for the most hardware won. Latynina collected 18 medals from 1956-64.

Phelps entered the medley relay 24 hours after his most scintillating victory in Beijing, a come-from-behind triumph that handed him the 100 butterfly title over Milorad Cavic by a hundredth of a second. Trailing Cavic by more than a half-second at the midpoint of the race, Phelps tracked down the Serbian with a sterling finish, his fingernail proving to be the difference.

That unclipped cuticle allowed Phelps to equal Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals from the 1972 Games in Munich. More, it kept alive the Chase for Eight. Outside of the 100 fly, Phelps' meet was defined by overwhelming triumphs. So, it was appropriate that the United States won the medley relay in comfortable fashion. Australia finished .70 behind the Americans.

"I think it really shows that no matter what you set your imagination to, anything can happen," Phelps said after winning his seventh gold a day earlier. "Dream as big as you can dream. Some people said it would be impossible to duplicate and that it wouldn't happen. It shows you can accomplish anything."

Back in the pool for the first time since the final of the 100 breaststroke, Hansen had five days of pent up frustration to unleash on his breaststroke leg. When the Olympics started, he had his eyes fixed on capturing the individual gold medal that narrowly eluded his grasp four years ago in Athens. Instead, he was forced to deal with the burn of just missing the medal podium.

Two days after turning 27, Hansen split 59.27 on his leg, taking to the water after Aaron Peirsol opened the event with a 53.16 backstroke leg. Hansen turned matters over to Phelps, who checked in with a butterfly split of 50.15, and Jason Lezak brought the Americans home with a freestyle anchor of 46.76.

His second Olympiad over, Hansen will remain in Beijing as a spectator, attending several events and mingling with his fellow Olympians. He'll then return home and begin a three- or four-month break from the sport, a respite he's never known. In early 2009, he plans to return to the water and begin training for next year's World Championships in Rome.

"That was a hard race," Hansen said. "It was very emotional and all four of us wanted to get it right. There was added pressure for Michael to get his eighth gold. We had a team meeting without the coaches where we said we wanted to make American proud of us."

Prior to the Athens Games, as a way to link the sport's two greatest athletes, Speedo offered a $1 million bonus to Phelps if he could match what Spitz pulled off in Munich. The check wasn't written in 2004, but the bounty stayed on the table for another four years. By Saturday night, Speedo officials were signing the check.

Not that Phelps is primarily concerned with the financial rewards of the sport. While he lives a blessed life, making in the vicinity of $5 million per year between his endorsement contracts and performance bonuses, Phelps truly is concerned with elevating the profile of swimming. He understands that embracing history and pursuing feats considered impossible can make his dream a reality.

"I have it said before and I'll say it again. My big goal is to change the sport of swimming in some way," Phelps said. "For the kids coming up into the sport and for the sport in American. I just got a picture from my friend from Sports Center Live. They aired the race. They had it live on a Jumbotron in the middle of a baseball game. My goal is starting to happen, but I have a long way to go with that.

"I'm not doing it for the money. I'm doing it because I love what I do. It is something I've dreamed of since I started swimming - to win a gold medal. In Athens, I was able to do that. I have been able to surpass my goals."
He has made history.

See more photos in the Gallery.

WHEEEEE! Happy Birthday Brendan!!!

As it's already Brendan's Birthday in China I figured I'd go ahead and get this posted. Make it a good one Bren! xoxox


Artwork by Alexandra from Hungary

Chillin' with Kobe

Photo Credit: TIMOTHY CLARY/AFP/Getty Images

ETA: Alexandra (from Hungary) posted another on the forum. Here it is.

Pure Class

This wasn't the result he wanted but he's still a Champion through-and-through and a great man.



Love you Brendan. Pure class as always.

Good Luck Brendan!

I know you'll join me in sending all your good vibes to Brendan in Beijing tonight. I'm going to be sitting on my sofa mentally pulling him through the water and meditating on good things trying to help him in whatever small way I can.

ooommmmmmmmmm <--- (my Zen meditating sound. haha)

Thanks to Stella for the Chinese translation.

Brendan Qualifies for 100 Breast Final

"Everything is going as planned," Hansen said. "I'm not going to show what I can do until tomorrow. Everyone is swimming scared. They're all wondering why (is Hansen) swimming out in Lane 7. I had a dream and called my brother Sean to tell him that I won the gold medal from Lane 2. That's where I'll be in the final. I won my first world championship in that lane. I'm comfortable in that position."

1 OEN Alexander Dale 59.16
2 KITAJIMA Kosuke 59.55
3 RICKARD Brenton 59.65
4 DUBOSCQ Hugues 59.83
5 HANSEN Brendan 59.94
6 SLUDNOV Roman 1:00.10
7 GANGLOFF Mark 1:00.44
8 BORYSIK Igor 1:00.55

Full Results at Swimming World

Brendan Qualifies for 100 Breast Semi-final

The silver medalist at the 2004 Games in Athens and the world-record holder, American Brendan Hansen tied for 10th in 1:00.36, sharing that spot with Australia's Christian Sprenger. After the race, Hansen indicated that he held back, not wanting to reveal his hand too early. For the semifinals, Hansen said, a faster time would be produced.

1 OEN Alexander Dale 59.41
2 KITAJIMA Kosuke 59.52
3 DUBOSCQ Hugues 59.67
4 RICKARD Brenton 59.89
5 van der BURGH Cameron 59.96
6 TITENIS Giedrius 1:00.11
7 SLUDNOV Roman 1:00.20
8 BORYSIK Igor 1:00.31
9 DUGONJIC Damir 1:00.35
10 SPRENGER Christian 1:00.36
10 HANSEN Brendan 1:00.36
12 LISOGOR Oleg 1:00.65
13 SUENAGA Yuta 1:00.67
14 ALEXANDROV Mihail 1:00.69
15 COOK Christopher 1:00.70
16 GANGLOFF Mark 1:00.71

Mark and Bren's strategic swims are playing with my emotions.

Full results at Swimming World...

Brendan is smokin' up the pool!

And I hear he's swimming fast too.


Photo Credit: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Be sure to go check all the other new images I've added to the Beijing Gallery.
Also, NBC has a great feature video with Brendan up where he talks about his Olympic Dream.

Brendan in the News...

Less than 24 hours until the Games officially begin and two Brendan articles in my email...

Longhorn swimmer poised for Beijing

In his second trip to the Olympics, swimmer Brendan Hansen said there's a little more pressure this time around.

"In 2004, I didn't swim my best and I was stressed and didn't swim my best, but in these '08 games I'm gonna use that experience and put that energy in the right spots," he said.

Hansen still won silver and bronze in individual events in 2004, but Hansen wants gold.

"It's been a long road and I'm looking forward to hearing that national anthem and having that medal around my neck," he said.

Hansen 'not focusing' on Kitajima

"I'm not focusing on him at all," Hansen said Wednesday on his upcoming showdown with Kitajima in the 100-meter breaststroke at the Beijing Olympics.

"I'm going to swim my race and put my blinders on and not even look around me. Because if I swim my race, I don't think anybody can compete with me."

That's what I like to hear. Go Bren!

Texas Teammates

Teammates at Texas, Olympic swimmers compete in Beijing

By CHIP BROWN / The Dallas Morning News
chipbrown@dallasnews.com

snip

They consider themselves family. They know everything about each other's pet peeves, girlfriends and most embarrassing moments. They were college teammates, recruited from across the country, who have grown to be much more.

snip

"When they went to Athens in 2004, they were hoping to go fast," Reese said. "Now, they are in the group expecting to go fast. There's a big difference psychologically."

Hansen, who held the world record in the 200-meter breaststroke until June, didn't qualify in that event for the Beijing Olympics. He finished fourth at the U.S. swim trials. The winner was another Longhorn - Scott Spann, who transferred after two years at Michigan.

Instead of sulking about his situation and a missed chance to further a rivalry with 200 breaststroke world-record holder Kosuke Kitajima of Japan, Hansen vowed to help Spann win the race.

"It was an off-swim for Brendan," Spann said. "He's still the best."

As far as camaraderie among swimmers, maybe nothing will top Peirsol speaking out on behalf of Hansen in 2004. After Kitajima edged Hansen to win the 100-meter breaststroke gold in Athens, Peirsol accused Kitajima of using an illegal dolphin kick to start the race.

snip

"Aaron was upset, not because I told him to be," Hansen said. "He was genuinely upset. He knew I was in no position to talk, because it would sound like I was making excuses for losing."

snip

Crocker, 25, is quiet and introverted. He won Olympic silver in the 100-meter butterfly in 2004 and set the world record (50.40) in that event in 2005. He finished second to Phelps in that event at this year's trials.

"I feel like tight competition is a necessary evil," Crocker said. "It's the best thing for you. Michael Phelps is a great competitor, a great racer. But he's absolutely beatable."

snip

Crocker said he was somewhat distracted four years ago in Athens by having just turned pro. There were sponsors events to attend and financial incentives being dangled in front of him.

"In Athens, one of the main feelings I had was, 'I didn't have a good time,' " Crocker said. "I kind of let the experience take over and guide me rather than me guiding my experience. So my goals in Beijing are to swim fast but to have a good time."

snip

Hansen, 26, is the outspoken outdoorsman who loves to hunt so much that he took up bow hunting wild hogs because it's allowed in Texas year round.

Whether it's providing commentary for VH1's 100 Best Sports Bodies or even speaking about Kitajima this summer, Hansen doesn't hold back.

"I'm honest and to the point," Hansen said. "I don't know if a lot of people can say that. And if you don't like that, you don't like me."

snip

Hansen, Peirsol and Crocker have a history of creating Olympic drama - happy, sad or with some controversy - and will undoubtedly create more in Beijing. Most important, they will do it together.

"Honestly, we don't hang out that much outside the pool," Hansen said. "But when we go into a meet, it's like going into battle with your brothers."

Brendan in Beijing!

While we were all sleeping the US Swim Team traded their posh hotel in Singapore for the Olympic Village in Beijing! Here are a couple pics of Brendan leaving the airport and testing out the waters at "the Cube".


Photo Credit: Reuters


Photo Credit: Getty

And some quotes from Brendan at the team's press conference in Singapore...

BRENDAN, HOW IS IT DIFFERENT GOING TO YOUR SECOND OLYMPIC GAMES?

Brendan Hansen: I think the second time around, you kind of wake up every day and you kind of know what that day is going to bring, whereas when you go to your first Games, every day is new and you don't know what's going to happen. So when you go to your second Games, you're a little more focused and you know what to expect, so when you know what to expect, you're obviously going to be more prepared, and when you're more prepared, you're more successful. I'm just looking at these Games and hoping that I'll be more successful than I was last time.

I'm excited about it. Most of the team has been chomping at the bit this last week, waiting for the week to go by. We are definitely anxious to get to Beijing and for the Games to get started.

Q: How is the team adjusting to the finals being in the morning?

Brendan Hansen: I think our approach as a team is, just being from the United States, our team, we're forced in the United States to swim fast every morning. How this team was brought up and was born from fast racing, at anytime, anyplace, anywhere. We're at an advantage because we challenge each other every time we get up on the blocks to race, whether it's in the morning or in the afternoon at every meet in the United States. And like Eric was saying earlier, our Trials is probably the hardest meet you've ever been to, just to make this team, it's hard. I was forced to swim three fast races in the morning and in the afternoon... We're going to go into these Games with the same approach we did at Trials and we were very successful at Trials and hopefully we will be at the Olympics.

You can read the full transcript of the press conference at Swimming World.

Letter From Olympian Bruce Furniss to Coach Eddie Reese Regarding Brendan Hansen

Reprinted by Swimming World...

Eddie

Congratulations to you on the performance of your kids at Trials. Be sure to tell Scott Spann congratulations on his son making the team. You all must be so proud!

I am writing in hopes that you will pass along to Brendan Hansen my comments as I do not have his email address...and besides, he wouldn't know me from a hot rock. I want to express to him what an impressive young man he is and what a wonderful example he is in his conduct. As a father of four in aquatic sports, it does not go unnoticed by parents like me out there when a great athlete stumbles and has a bad race or day, and in doing so, doesn't pout or duck the media (like Track Athlete Jeremy Wariner did yesterday), or make any excuses for himself. Brendan's television deck interview after his race made me a fan of his for life. He gave plaudits to his teammates, was pleased for their successes and in doing so, adhered to the fact he did his best...no excuses, not a one!

I have, as many of us have, had similar difficult moments (jumping on a WR setting 800 relay in '75 Worlds or getting DQ'd in my last career race at the '80 Olympic Trials) and struggled to maintain my composure and dignity in a very public moment. I, for one, know exactly how hard it must have been for him to address the media (many, I'm sure gleeful Japanese) so quickly after his race and he did so with such remarkable composure. He is extraordinary! I am certain you and his parents must be beaming with pride.

Many years from now, long after his days as a world class competitive swimmer are over, he will look fondly upon that moment with great pride, and upon further reflection, will realize it might just be his finest moment...not only just as an athlete, but as a man, a husband or father. His recall of that moment will provide the ingredients of a wonderful story. That moment will shape future generations, most likely and most importantly, it will someday influence his own kids.

Sorry for my long windedness, but I was so moved and affected by his conduct I just wanted him to know that others out there appreciate what he has done and how he has conducted himself. Hopefully as the sting of that bitter moment dissipates, Brendan will be buoyed by the bigger issue of the moment...how true Champions should always conduct themselves. It is easy to have great conduct and character in victory, but few are able to do it in defeat. Brendan did, and my family for one, will always remember it. Moments like that are what really separates the great ones...and he is every bit of that.

Regards and best wishes,

Bruce

Be sure to leave a comment at Swimming World thanking them for sharing this letter with us.