“It’s Pretty Funny”: Being a Teammate to Michael Phelps, US Swimming Veteran Brendan Hansen Shares His Take on Team USA’s Golden Years

Brendan Hansen might be a ten-time world champion, but he still misses the USA National Team. Hansen emerged as the powerhouse of American swimming before Michael Phelps decided to own the realm. Apart from being a 6x Olympic medalist, Hansen reached his peak in 2006 when he obliterated the world records thrice in just a matter of twenty-six days.

The 2006 US National Championships bore testament to his impeccable feat of clocking 59.13s in the 100m and 2:08.74s in the 200m breaststroke category, respectively. However, combining with his US team members, Hansen became a part of an almost invincible team, conquering almost every swimming frontier to their wish. And now, with moist eyes, Hansen is reminiscing about the days of the glorious past. 

Brendan Hansen reflects on the positive energy of the USA National Team

Reminiscing about the golden years of the USA men’s swimming team, Hansen dived into the shimmering pool of memories and success. The veteran shared the prime time of his career with the swimming legend, Michael Phelps. But what was it like to be a part of the same team share lanes and create memories with him?

With a heart full of gratitude and pride, Hansen referred to the mutual respect and understanding that flourished among the members. Hansen said, “It was just an awesome time to be on the national team because guys would say things in camp or do things in camp and people won’t react negatively.” He further reflected on how the team welcomed and embraced each other with a heart full of love and how a positive culture continued to nurture their bonding.

Moreover, he also stressed how they all stepped up with ideas and suggestions. Their ideas were always welcomed by their coach and they worked towards betterment together. Hansen provided refreshing insights into the camaraderie, triumphs, and a few splashy anecdotes from those halcyon days of the golden era.

Brendan Hansen expresses his admiration for Michael Phelps

Speaking about sharing the same locker room with Michael Phelps, Hansen stated that the swimmer was high on energy. In fact, he also went on to highlight the chemistry between Phelps and Bob Bowman, citing it as an impeccable bond. Hansen stated that such a bond with his coach played a significant part in uplifting Phelps’ confidence, which, in turn, led to his meteoric rise. 

Read More: With Michael Phelps Bagging 23 Olympic Golds, Swimming Icon Brendan Hansen Reflects on the “Tidal Wave of Emotions”

He then reminisced about the historic feat of beating the dangerous-looking French team 4×100 free relay. Reflecting on the experience, Hansen said, “I’m not even gonna say wave; I’m gonna say like a full-blown tidal wave of emotions, to where you didn’t even have to be a US citizen to be like, ‘That was amazing,’ you know?” With so much heritage being recalled, the onus will now be on the future generations of swimmers to carry forward the US legacy. 

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