The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Brendan Hansen selected for induction into Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame
04.02.2024 | Men's Swimming and Diving, T-Association
Former Longhorn swimming great will be inducted into the Class of 2024 on November 7.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Former University of Texas swimming great and three-time Olympic gold medalist Brendan Hansen has been selected as part of the 2024 Inductee Class into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, the organization announced Tuesday. A native of Haverford, Pa. (suburb of Philadelphia), Hansen is one of 15 individuals chosen to the class of 2024, joining A.W. Tillinghast, Alice Putnam Willets, Andy Talley, Angelo Cataldi, Chase Utley, Cheryl Reeve, Eddie Stanky, George Benton, Jameer Nelson, Joan Moore Gnat, Lurline Jones, Paul Westhead, Rod Brind Amour and Ryan Howard.
The 2024 induction ceremony and reception are scheduled for Thursday, November 7 at the Event Center at Live! Casino and Hotel in Philadelphia.
A former world record holder, 13-time NCAA Champion and 16-time All-American, Hansen competed for four seasons (2001-04) at The University of Texas. He made his mark as America's premier breaststroke swimmer of his generation and is one of five Texas swimmers to compete in three Olympiads for the United States.
Hansen finished his collegiate career with eight NCAA individual titles and five NCAA relay crowns. He helped Texas to NCAA team championships during his freshman (2001) and sophomore (2002) seasons. Hansen swept the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke events at four consecutive NCAA Championship meets.
A six-time Olympic medalist, Hansen's longevity made him a mainstay on Team's USA medley relay for the better part of a decade at Olympic and World Championship meets. He won his first Olympic gold medal on the USA's 400m medley relay at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where he added a silver in the 100m breaststroke and bronze in the 200m breaststroke. Hansen set his first world records that same year in the 100m and 200 breaststroke events prior to the Olympic Games.
At the 2008 Beijing Games, Hansen won his second Olympic gold medal in the 400m medley relay. He retired after the 2008 games before returning to competitive swimming in 2011 and qualifying for a third Olympics a year later. Hansen won his third Olympic gold medal in the 400m medley relay at the 2012 London Games, where he also won bronze in the 100m breaststroke.
Hansen earned his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from The University of Texas in 2005. He was previously inducted into The University of Texas Athletics Hall of Honor (2015), the Texas Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame (2015) and the International Swimming Hall of Fame (2020). Hansen currently serves as Director of Team Services at USA Swimming.
For more information on the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame, please visit the organization's official web site at: https://www.philadelphiasportshalloffame.org.