St. Pete teenagers getting ready for worldwide swimming occasion

For the Hansen household, swimming is simply within the blood. 

St. Petersburg-based siblings Brinkleigh, Sawyer and Karrington will symbolize Team USA within the World Aquatics Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in Santa Fe, Argentina Sept. 3 – 6. They shall be joined by St. Petersburg Aquatics teammate Ansley Bess. 

The athletes all have connections to St. Petersburg High School. Sawyer, Brinkleigh and Ansley are present college students. Karrington, who’s an alumni, is a swimmer on the University of Kentucky. 

More than 10 younger folks will symbolize Team USA within the World Aquatics Junior Open Water Swimming Championships. Previously, Argentina has hosted 34 World Aquatics occasions. Open water competitions happen in pure our bodies of water comparable to oceans, lakes and rivers. 

The upcoming occasion isn’t Brinkleigh’s first time representing Team USA. Earlier this month, the junior participated in a 10-kilometer race on the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in California. 

“I never get used to the feeling and I don’t think anybody ever does because it’s so crazy,” Brinkleigh stated. “So many people dream of this and I get to be a part of it and live it. So, I think that’s really important and I always keep that in the back of my head when I’m racing.”

Brinkleigh Hansen swimming at a Tuesday apply on the North Shore Aquatic Complex in St. Petersburg.

She defined that seeing Karrington swim impressed her to pursue the game. Florida’s tropical atmosphere was additionally an element. 

Preparation is intense. Brinkleigh and her teammates normally prepare six days per week. They even have double practices on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 

“I’m looking forward to spending time with my family and teammates,” she stated. “I think this is such a cool opportunity that may only come once in this lifetime, so I’m really excited for it.” 

Brinkleigh added that one of many largest challenges of her swimming profession has been making an attempt to take care of a relaxed mindset whereas dealing with the pressures that include racing. She hopes to symbolize Team USA within the 2028 Summer Olympics, which is scheduled to happen in Los Angeles. 

The younger athlete defined that open water swimming could also be “on the chopping block” for the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane, Australia.  

“I don’t think this sport should go away,” Brinkleigh stated. “It really shows the nature side of things. We’re always going to have that. I think it’s very important to support new, up-and-coming sports like open water.” 

Sawyer can be wanting ahead to becoming a member of his household. 

“I was actually kind of forced into swimming when I was a little kid,” he defined. “My parents were swimmers and they wanted to get me into the sport too. I just started to really love the sport and grew into it and really enjoyed it as I grew up.”

Sawyer Hansen swimming at a Tuesday apply on the North Shore Aquatic Complex.

Sawyer, a sophomore, was chosen for the World Aquatics Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in April. He defined that the entire “hard, intense training” paid off. 

“It’s my first international trip and first time representing Team USA,” Sawyer stated. “I’m going to meet a bunch of new people and make new friends. Being out of the country is going to be a lot of fun.” 

Sawyer hopes to proceed to swim in faculty and pursue an expert profession. Competing within the Olympics is his long-term objective. 

Ansley, who’s a freshman, defined that she initially pursued gymnastics as a sport. Her cousin would encourage her to swim. It was solely a matter of time earlier than Ansley needed to attempt one thing new. 

The athlete doesn’t take the chance “lightly.” 

“I’m looking forward to meeting people and am definitely excited to race and learn a bunch of things from people who have been on these trips before,” Ansley stated. “I definitely hope to do more meets like this on the international stage.”