By the time he was a high school freshman Brendan Hansen had won his first state championship. Brendan was already becoming well known for his talent in high school, he was a part of the High school All-American honors, National Age Group records, and National championship in 200 meter breaststroke in 1999.

During Brendan’s first season with the UT Longhorns he won 4 NCAA titles and 4 NCAA All- America honors. Brendan continued to raise the bar of performance and in 2001 he broke the 200 meter Breast American Record at the spring nationals and later won his first international medal at the World Championships by winning gold in 200 meter breaststroke. Brendan became the third person in history to accomplish a career sweep in 100 and 200 meter breaststroke at the collegiate level. Brendan completed his college swimming career with 13 total NCAA titles and the Big 12 Conference Swimmer of the Year, Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Year, and many other accolades. Since then, he has become the only person in history to win all the breststroke events in all four years at the NCAA Championships.

Brendan also won the gold medal, 1 silver medal and 1 bronze medal in the 4 x 100 meter relay, 100 meter and the 200 meter breaststroke respectively at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympic Games. At the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games, Brendan finished fourth in the 100 meter breaststroke event where he helped Michael Phelps get his gold medal in 4 x 100 meter relay.

Brendan’s love for swimming makes him one the most passionate speakers in the sport. He is the national spokesperson for the Leukemia Research Foundation and gives back to that community and the swimming community through youth clinics and motivational speaking.