Intense focus pays off for Hansen, one of world's best swimmers
November 13, 2006

Swimming: Intense focus pays off for Hansen, one of world's best swimmers

David King
Express-News Staff Writer

Brendan Hansen has had one of those years that makes those hundreds and hundreds of hours of pre-dawn workouts worthwhile.

Hansen, who swam one of his specialties, the 200-yard breaststroke, Saturday night at the Short Course Grand Prix at Palo Alto Natatorium, has not lost in the breaststroke in 2006.

He has set world records in both the 100-and 200-meter breaststroke, making him the first U.S. swimmer in 33 years to hold both marks. He has run away with the gold medals in his races at the Pan Pacific Championships. And, not surprisingly, he has been named the 2006 USA Swimming Athlete of the Year.

″Yeah, it's been a pretty good year,″ he said with a laugh.

It might even top 2004, when he won a gold medal in the 400 medley relay, a silver in the 100 breast and a bronze in the 100 breast at the Athens Olympics.

″Brendan has had the best year of his life,″ said Aaron Peirsol, his friend and teammate with Longhorn Aquatics. ″He'll win all the swimmer of the year awards for the U.S., and he ought to be the swimmer of the year for the whole world.″

Since graduating from the University of Texas in December and joining Longhorn Aquatics, Hansen's sole focus has been swimming â€" 10 workouts a week, plus three sessions in the weight room and two on dry land.

″If I'm not swimming, I'm either eating or sleeping,″ he said. ″That's my life.″

That single-mindedness, he believes, has made a difference.

″I decided I didn't want to be a guy who was just pretty good,″ he said. ″I want to be the best.″

Graduating allowed him to focus on his preparations, and he said that emphasis is critical in a sport where .01 of a second can make the difference between winning or losing or in Hansen's case, making or missing the Olympic team, which is what happened when he was left home during the 2000 Games.

″It's almost horrible to think that we spend so much time getting ready for something that takes 59 seconds, or 2 minutes, to do,″ he said, referring to his world-record times in the 100 (59.13 seconds) and 200 (2:08.50), both set in August. ″But that's how it works.″

One of the biggest things he has learned is how to channel his energy, comparing his mental state at meets to that of a veteran pitcher at the World Series.

″A rookie pitcher at the World Series might waste a lot of energy simply because it's the World Series,″ he said. ″A veteran pitcher knows how to block out the distractions and be in control.″

It also helps to be around world-class competitors and coaches every day. As part of Longhorn Aquatics, he works with UT coach Eddie Reese, who will be the 2008 Olympic team coach, and he shares a pool with Peirsol and Ian Crocker, who won three medals each in Athens.

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