Piper, Hansen to Represent UW at Pan American Games
July 31, 2003 | Men's Swimming & Diving
There are very few bigger honors in athletics than to represent one's country in international competition. For junior swimmer Carly Piper and Wisconsin head swimming coach Eric Hansen, the opportunity to represent the United States at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic is right around the corner.
Piper will be a member of the 800-meter freestyle relay squad and will get the opportunity to participate in the 200-, 400- and 800-meter freestyle based on her involvement in the relay. Hansen will serve as the head coach for the U.S. men 's team. The Games run from August 1-17.
While it will be the first chance for Piper to be a member of Team USA, Hansen, a native of Sioux City, Iowa, has an extensive history of representing the U.S. He was a member of the U.S. National team from 1987-92 and served as an assistant coach at the 1994 World Championships in Rome. He also worked as a coach at the 1998 U.S. Pan American Team training camp and was on the 1996 U.S. Olympic Team advisory staff. His most recent international experience came during April 2002 when he served as the head men 's coach for the FINA Short Course World Championships in Moscow. He earned the opportunity to head the Pan American squad after being appointed by the USA Swimming board.
'I had a great experience (in Moscow) and I'm excited to see what (the team) can do,' Hansen said while en route to the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. 'The chance to represent the United States is the highlight of anyone's career. We're expecting great things.'
Upon arrival in Colorado Springs, Hansen will then fly to St. Petersburg, Fla., on Aug. 3 and conduct training sessions with the team until Aug. 8. From there, the team will take a charter flight to the Dominican Republic and begin competition Aug. 11 before returning home on the 18th.
Piper was scheduled to compete for the U.S. at the World University Games in Daegu, Korea in late August, but when one of the members of the Pan American squad withdrew from competition, the Grosse Point, Mich., native was named to the team.
'Since this is my first time (competing internationally), I don't really know what to expect, but I'm really excited,' Piper said. 'I've been watching the World Championships on TV and that has really gotten me excited about the opportunity.'
Already one of the most decorated women's swimmers in University of Wisconsin history with nine Big Ten titles to her credit, the defending Big Ten Swimmer of the Year suffered a minor setback in early May when she severed a tendon in her hand that required surgery. However, according to Hansen, the bump in the road has done little to sidetrack Piper.
'She's better than she's ever been, ' Hansen said, 'and that's a tribute to her hard work. She 's looking better and better every day. It's a huge honor for her and it 's the final international competition prior to the Olympic Trials next year. It 's a great opportunity to get international experience.'
'My finger is still a little bent, but it feels a lot better,' Piper said.
As for her goals for the Games, Piper said she just wants to focus on herself and not worry about the competition.
'I just want to try to set some best times, have a good experience and do the best I can,' she said.
Piper won't be the only member of the UW swim team competing in the near future, though. Twelve of her Badger teammates, both male and female, will participate in the ConocoPhillips U.S. Summer National Championships in College Park, Md., from Aug. 5-9.
'Our summer program has evolved into something very special, ' Hansen said. 'Our staff sticks around and the majority of the kids stick around and train during the summer. The off-season work will really help give us more depth and experience. We have a tight-knit group that sticks together and hopefully we 'll be able to pick up right where we left off once the season rolls around. '
