Mother of swimmer who won gold with Phelps glad pressure is off

Published: 2008-08-26

PHILADELPHIA (CNS) -- When Brendan Hansen was about 10 years old, he won yet another swimming race. A woman came up to Hansen's mom and emphatically suggested that she report her son's times. "I really had no idea of what she was talking about," said Miriam Hansen. "I was like, 'Why?' I had no idea they were considered that good. I didn't even know who I was supposed to report the times to." That was 17 years ago, and since that eye-opening moment when a mother began realizing that her son might have a truly significant gift as a standout athlete, Brendan Hansen -- a graduate of St. Denis School in Havertown, Pa. -- has become one of the world's fastest swimmers. At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing Aug. 17, Hansen became part of Olympic lore when he raced the second leg of the 400-meter medley relay that eventually cemented Michael Phelps' feat as the first Olympian in history to win eight gold medals in the same venue. Miriam Hansen admitted that, because Phelps was trying to make history, capturing the gold was more a relief than euphoria because "nobody wanted to be the one who blew it. They were careful not to do anything wrong. That's a tough way to do a race," she said.

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