World Champs, Day 2 Evening Session: Hansen Claims Crown in 100 Breaststroke

By John Lohn
Photos by Peter H. Bick

MONTREAL, Canada, July 25. REVENGE is sweet, and Brendan Hansen now knows the taste. Popping the second-fastest time in history, behind only his world record, Hansen captured gold in the 100-meter breaststroke with a swim of 59.37. Hansen’s global standard sits at 59.30, from last summer’s United States Olympic Trials in Long Beach (Calif.).

Hansen took the lead early from his Japanese rival, Kosuke Kitajima, and split 27.95 at the 50-meter point to the 28.29 effort of Kitajima. Down the final 50 meters, Kitajima tried to make a move on Hansen, but the American responded with a surge that kept him in front and allowed him to prevail. Kitajima was clocked in 59.53, the third-fastest time ever produced.

At last summer’s Olympics, Kitajima narrowly defeated Hansen, thanks in part to a dolphin kick off the start and turn that added extra propulsion. Hansen spent the last year reliving that race and remembering the boisterous celebration from Kitajima. The memories served as major motivation and made Hansen’s victory even sweeter.

Just as what happened at the Olympics, France’s Hugues Duboscq was the bronze medalist with a performance of 1:00.20, fast enough to deter the Ukraine’s Oleg Lisogor (1:00.36). The fifth-place spot went to Russia’s Dmitry Komornikov (1:00.66) and sixth was secured by Great Britain’s Chris Cook (1:00.99). Seventh went to Norway’s Alexander Dale Oen (1:01.29) and eight was taken by Slovenia’s Emil Tahirovic (1:01.33)

Brendan is congratulated by his mom after medals.

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