Brendan Hansen on Comeback Trail & Other Odds and Ends

Column by John Lohn, Swimming World senior writer

BASKING RIDGE, New Jersey, May 23. HE won't have the chance to compete for any international medals this year and whether he gets the chance to do so in the future remains to be seen. Even if he doesn't get that opportunity, his career has been stellar.

A four-time Olympic medalist and the former world-record holder in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes, Brendan Hansen is set to make his competitive return to the sport at next month's Santa Clara International Swim Meet, one of the biggest stops on the USA Grand Prix Series. It will be Hansen's first competitive foray since the Beijing Olympics.

In this day of comebacks, Hansen is one of a number of high-profile swimmers to get back in the water. However, unlike Australian legend Ian Thorpe, Hansen never officially retired and, therefore, doesn't have to sit out of race action due to anti-doping rules. So, Hansen will be back in a little less than a month, with Santa Clara serving as the barometer of his current standing.

When Hansen last raced, he handled the breaststroke leg of the 400-meter medley relay that gave Michael Phelps the eighth gold medal of his record-breaking performance at the Beijing Games. Hansen has been training seriously for several months and has indicated he is anxious to get back into racing form and is pleased with how his training is progressing.

While Eric Shanteau is a reliable option for the United States in the breaststroke disciplines, the American arsenal – on the whole – is not very deep. If Hansen can regain the form and flourish as he once did, en route to multiple world championships, it would be a welcome sight for the Red, White and Blue. Especially in the medley relay, where the rest of the world is capable of fielding squads able to push the U.S., the Hansen of old would be much appreciated.

It can be argued that Hansen, a powerful technician during his heyday, was hurt more by the high-tech suit era than most other competitors. Before the suit craze hit, Hansen's biggest advantage over the competition was his technique. That edge was neutralized when the tech suits brought many other swimmers onto the same level.

During his past appearances at the Santa Clara International Swim Meet, Hansen has shined. It's tough to say what he'll do the next time he enters the George Haines International Swim Center. Still, his presence will be welcome. Like Thorpe and Ed Moses, among others, it's good to see Brendan Hansen back in the equation.

**Want to get a little discussion going on the most underappreciated female performer in the American deck. While they have clearly achieved big things in the sport, I'll start the conversation by saying that Dana Vollmer and Chloe Sutton don't get the credit they deserve.

Vollmer brings so much to the table for the United States, as she has Olympic-qualifying potential in the 100 and 200 freestyles, along with the 100 butterfly. More important, she could be on three relays in London and brings tremendous versatility to the coaches when putting together the 400 medley relay. Of course, her Cal Aquatics teammate Natalie Coughlin does the same, but Coughlin has certainly received her due.

As for Sutton, she has demonstrated her spectacular range from the pool to open water, but now that she's focused on the pool portion of the sport, Sutton is a legitimate medal contender in London in the 400 and 800 freestyles. She could also earn a top-finish in the 200 freestyle, thus earning a relay invitation.

So, who are your most underappreciated American women?

**Going to make this note real quick. I don't care that Michael Phelps has lost back-to-back 200 butterfly races. The event is his baby and he will be prepared to shine when it matters, per his track record. Again: Phelps WILL NOT lose the 200 butterfly in major competition.

**In a recent interview for a Swimming World Magazine piece, Ous Mellouli indicated he is likely to race the 400 freestyle at the London Olympics, rather than toy with the idea of tackling the 400 individual medley. Both events are on the first day of competition and, therefore, a double is out of the question.

During our interview, however, Mellouli noted that he is curious to see what kind of time he could put together in the 400 IM (long course) under the best of conditions. So, with that mindset, perhaps we'll get a chance to see what the Tunisian star is capable of down the road.

Follow me on Twitter: @JohnLohn

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