- Brendan Hansen
Infobox Swimmer
swimmername = Brendan Hansen
imagesize =
caption =
fullname = Brendan Hansen
nicknames =
nationality = USA
strokes = Breaststroke
club =
collegeteam =Texas Longhorns
birthdate =birth date and age|mf=yes|1981|08|15
birthplace =Havertown, Pennsylvania , United States
deathdate =
deathplace =
height = height|ft=6
weight = convert|189|lb|kg
medaltemplates =Brendan Joseph Hansen (born August 15, 1981 in
Havertown, Pennsylvania ) is an Americanswimmer who specializes in thebreaststroke . He is a four-time Olympic medalist and multiple record holder. He attendedSt. Denis School in Havertown, PA.Biography
Despite setting the world record in the 100 and 200 meter breaststroke at the 2004 U.S. Olympic trials, he did not manage to win a gold medal in either event at the
2004 Summer Olympics , as he settled for silver in the 100 and bronze in the 200. He would win a gold in those games for his role in the world-record setting 4 x 100 medley relay. His split on the relay turned out to be one of the fastest in history.At the
2005 World Aquatics Championships , Hansen won gold in the same three events that he participated in at the 2004 Olympics.Hansen's well-known for his unique style of breaststroke, which incorporates a kick that is much narrower than the other swimmers, including his biggest rival,
Kosuke Kitajima from Japan, who took gold in both the 100 m and 200 m Breaststroke in 2004 Athens Olympic Games.At the 2006 ConocoPhillips National Championships, Hansen lowered both his world records in the 100 meter and 200 meter breaststroke to 59.13 in the 100 m and 2:08.74 in the 200 m.
At the
2006 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships held in Victoria, Canada, Hansen again lowered his world record time in the 200 m breaststroke to 2:08.50. It is notable that he was a quarter of a second behind his best time at the 150 m mark, but he came back 0.6 second faster with a 33.38.Hansen was the world record holder in the (long-course) 100 m breaststroke until Kitajima broke that record at the 2008 Olympics. The 200 m breaststroke record he set in 2006 was broken by Kitajima in June 2008.
Hansen has set numerous NCAA records while swimming for the
University of Texas at Austin . He graduated in 2005 with a degree inkinesiology .He was also NCAA Champion in the 100 yard and 200 yard breaststroke events each year of his four year college career.
Hansen swam breaststroke at the
2008 Summer Olympics , his only individual event, finishing in fourth place but earned a gold medal for his part in the 4 x 100 Medley Relay. He lost the medal while on a flight home from a party in his hometown near Philadelphia to Austin. It was returned to him the following day. [ [http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/26740871/] ]Records
Brendan's records include:
*World Records:
** 200 yd (SC) Breaststroke: 1:51.74
*NCAA Records:
** 200 yd (SC) Breaststroke: 1:52.62See also
*
World record progression 100 metres breaststroke
*World record progression 200 metres breaststroke References
External links
* [http://www.brendanhansenonline.com/ Brendan Hansen Online fansite]
* [http://www.brendanhansen.net BrendanHansen.net fan site]
*
* Videos & Results on [http://www.swimpassion.net/Athletes/brendanhansen.html SwimPassion.net]
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