Four St. Pete swimmers chosen to characterize Team USA at World Junior Championhips

St. Pete swimmers head to Argentina with Team USA

The subsequent Summer Olympics aren’t for one more two years, however 4 native swimmers have been simply chosen to characterize Team USA. They’re competing within the 2026 World Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in Argentina subsequent week. FOX 13’s Kailey Tracy experiences. 

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Four native swimmers from the identical membership and highschool will characterize the United States subsequent week on the 2026 World Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in Santa Fe, Argentina.

St. Petersburg swimmers be part of Team USA

What we all know:

Ansley Bess, Sawyer Hansen, Brinkleigh Hansen and Karrington Hansen, all athletes with St. Petersburg Aquatics, make up a part of the 12-member Team USA roster competing within the occasion September 3-6. 

The feat is especially notable for the Hansen household, as three of the 4 are siblings. All 4 athletes attend or just lately graduated from St. Petersburg High School.

Rigorous each day coaching regime

What they’re saying:

“It’s so cool, and I think this has honestly never been done before, all coming from the same team and the same high school,” Brinkleigh Hansen mentioned. “So, I think that’s just super special.”

The group maintains a rigorous coaching schedule, practising six days every week for one hour every morning and two further hours each night.

“This is the greatest thing, to be able to compete and swim along with my sisters,” Sawyer Hansen mentioned. “Our family is always competitive and always wants to be the best you can be. Being able to represent Team USA at the highest level is the best it gets.”

“I kind of didn’t process it because I first initially found out right after my race from my friend’s coach and I just didn’t believe it, because I’ve never performed on this stage before,” Bess mentioned, describing her preliminary response to listening to the information. “So, it was just really wow to me. It was cool.”

The worldwide showcase comes on the heels of current particular person success for Brinkleigh Hansen, who represented Team USA within the 10-kilometer open water race on the Pan Pacific Championships in California. She has her sights set on competing within the 2028 Olympic Games.