Ward Melville swimmer Brendan Miller makes a giant splash: 10 medals at Maccabi Games in Israel

Brendan Miller seems to be extra like an Olympian than a 15-year-old swimmer. Nonetheless, he’s 15, standing 6-6 and weighing 205 kilos.

While he has extra work to do earlier than making an attempt to grow to be an Olympian, Miller is beginning to construct a formidable resume — particularly his outcomes from the U17 boys occasions on the 2026 Maccabi Games in Israel.

“I got 10 medals: five gold, four silver and a bronze,” Miller mentioned about his efficiency within the Maccabi Games. “And then I broke three meet records.”

Miller, a Port Jefferson native who’s going into his sophomore yr at Ward Melville, was named to Newsday’s 2026 All-Long Island boys swimming and diving crew earlier than touring to Israel from June 29 to July 21 for the Maccabi Games. Among his 5 gold medals, he set meet data for the 200-meter U17 males’s particular person medley (2:10.97), 100-meter U17 males’s freestyle (52.26) and 400-meter U17 males’s particular person medley (4:41.52).

The Games happen in Israel each 4 years, however have been pushed from 2025 to 2026 due to Israel’s warfare with Iran. They are the biggest Jewish sporting competitors on the planet and the second-largest sports activities occasion globally, typically known as the “Jewish Olympics.” Every 4 years, over 10,000 athletes from 80-plus nations collect in Israel to compete in additional than 45 sports activities and full group service.

“For Brendan to have had an opportunity to compete on an international stage is remarkable,” mentioned his father, Josh. “For him to have had the opportunity to compete as a Jewish athlete, surrounded by elite Jewish athletes from around the globe, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I think he and our family, especially, are grateful to Maccabi USA for that opportunity.”

Before profitable 10 medals, Miller conceded he was “a little worried” heading into the competitors as a result of he realized Israel was bringing its nationwide crew.

That all modified as soon as he acquired to Wingate Institute, which hosted the swimming meets and is Israel’s Olympic coaching facility.

“Once we started competing,” Miller mentioned, “I realized like, ‘I’m having a great meet, and I can beat all of them.’ ”

He did.

When Miller acquired his medals, the pinnacle coach of Israeli swimming introduced them to him. At some level, as a result of he acquired so a lot of them, Miller mentioned he began joking round with the coach. But when Miller confirmed up early to one of many displays, the Israeli coach wanted to be taught extra about him.

Some of the questions Miller remembers answering: “What do you do for training? How many days a week?”

The reply? He trains two hours a day, seven days per week. And that’s not together with the on-land exercises with weightlifting and physique weight work he generally tacks on.

The Millers credited The Three Village Swim Club in East Setauket for serving to form his basis. He started swimming there when he was 7, and has since labored diligently with Mark Anderson, Chris Brandenberger and Joe Brinkman.

Miller mentioned he began out taking classes earlier than swimming competitively, starting when he was round 11 or 12. Swimming is the one sport he focuses on.

As a 13-year-old, Miller mentioned he was 5-7 earlier than rising practically a foot during the last two years. Already trying the a part of an Olympian bodily, Miller’s outcomes are getting him nearer to that actuality.

He lately certified for the USA Swimming Pro Swim Series, a four-star meet that sits one tier beneath the USA Swimming Olympic Trials, the group’s highest-level competitors.

Looking ahead, Miller mentioned he’ll doubtless swim in faculty — the recruiting course of will start after his sophomore yr — and that his objective is to qualify for the Olympic Trials, which is able to happen in Indianapolis in June 2028.

Although he nonetheless has work to do to perform his objective, he’s set the muse for future success. And sooner or later, perhaps, he’ll be Long Island’s subsequent nice Olympic swimmer.