It was a big night in London for two local swimmers.
Havertown’s Brendan Hansen took home a bronze medal and finished third in the Men’s 100-Meter Final with a time of 59.49. South Africa’s Cameron Burgh Van Der finished first with a World Record time of 58.46. Australia’s Christian Sprenger came in second with a time of 58.93.
During the 2004 Summer Olympics, Hansen took home a gold medal in a the world-record setting 4x 100m medley relay, a bronze medal in the 200m race and a silver in the 100m race. Hansen also took home a gold medal during the 2008 Beijing games as a member of the 4 x 100-m medley relay team. Hansen will have a shot at another gold medal, as he takes part in another 4x100m medley relay, set to begin on Friday.
Meanwhile, local swimmer Rebecca Soni is moving on to the Women’s 100m breaststroke final. The Plainsboro native was first in her Heat and second overall with a time of 1:05.98. Soni’s fellow American Breeja Larson is also heading to the finals, finishing second in her Heat and 4th overall with a time of 1:06.70. 15-year-old Lithuanian phenom Ruta Meilutyte finished in first overall with a time of 1:05.21.
Soni will have a real fight on her hands when she faces off against the Lithuanian teen in the 100-meter breaststroke final on Monday. Meilutyte also beat Soni in the 100-meter breaststroke Heats earlier on Sunday. Will Soni finally come out on top during the final? We’ll find out tomorrow.
