Brooke Hanson
Encyclopedia
Brooke Louise Hanson OAM
(born 18 March 1978 in Manly
, New South Wales
) is a former Australian swimmer.
A swimmer since the age of four, Hanson was the youngest swimmer on the Australian national team at the 1994 Commonwealth Games
, where she finished fourth in the 200 m breaststroke. However, she would not qualify for another major international competition for eight years, until she qualified for the 100 m breaststroke and 200 m breaststroke at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
. At the 2003 World Aquatics Championships
, she would finish second in the 50 m breaststroke and sixth in the 100 m breaststroke.
At the 2004 Summer Olympics
, Hanson won a gold medal as part of the Australian 4x100 medley relay
team by swimming the breaststroke leg in a preliminary heat (Leisel Jones
swam the breaststroke leg in the final). Jones' selection was the source of much discussion, and rumours spread of conflict between the two. She also won silver in the 100 m breaststroke
.
Several weeks later, Hanson competed at the 2004 FINA Short Course World Championships
in Indianapolis
, Indiana
. Most of the medal-winners from the recently finished Olympics chose not to attend which allowed Hanson to win six gold medals, five of which were for individual events.
2005 was a difficult year for Hanson. She was defeated by both Jade Edmistone
and Leisel Jones
in the 50 m and 100 m breaststroke at the Australian Championships. At the 2005 World Aquatics Championships
in Montreal
, Hanson missed the medals in both the 100 m breaststroke and the 200 m individual medley, but claimed bronze in the 50 m breaststroke.
She admitted after the 2006 Commonwealth Games
trials that she had been close to retiring. She missed qualification for the 50 m and 100 m breaststroke events, where the three positions were claimed by Jones, Edmistone and Tarnee White
respectively. She qualified for the 200 m breaststroke and individual medley, and claimed silver in the latter event behind young team-mate Stephanie Rice
.
She swims with the Nunawading Swimming Club in Melbourne.
In 2006 she joined the health and lifestyle program What's Good For You
team and is a presenter in the second series of the show. At the 2007 Logies, she was nominated for Most Popular Female New Talent for her role in the show.
On 17 June 2007, Hanson was taken to hospital after collapsing after an apparent electric shock
after climbing out of a spa at a pool and spa show in Melbourne. An investigation by Energy Safe Victoria found no fault with the spa.
In 2008, she auditioned unsuccessfully for Gladiators for the Seven Network.
Hanson's father is a PR specialist with Swimming Australia and runs Hanson Sports Media an Australian sports media company.
She is married to Jared Clarke and has two children.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 18 March 1978 in Manly
Manly, New South Wales
Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Manly is located 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Manly Council, in the Northern Beaches region.-History:Manly was named...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
) is a former Australian swimmer.
A swimmer since the age of four, Hanson was the youngest swimmer on the Australian national team at the 1994 Commonwealth Games
1994 Commonwealth Games
The 1994 Commonwealth Games were held in Victoria, in the province of British Columbia in Canada, from 18 August to 28 August 1994.The XV Commonwealth Games marked South Africa's return to the Commonwealth Games following the apartheid era, and over 30 years since the country last competed in the...
, where she finished fourth in the 200 m breaststroke. However, she would not qualify for another major international competition for eight years, until she qualified for the 100 m breaststroke and 200 m breaststroke at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
2002 Commonwealth Games
The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
. At the 2003 World Aquatics Championships
2003 World Aquatics Championships
Barcelona, Spain was the host city of the X FINA World Aquatics Championships or the 10th FINA World Championships in Aquatics, which were held from July 12 until July 27, 2003....
, she would finish second in the 50 m breaststroke and sixth in the 100 m breaststroke.
At the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
, Hanson won a gold medal as part of the Australian 4x100 medley relay
Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 4 x 100 metre medley relay
The women's 4×100 metre medley relay was a swimming event held as part of the Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics programme. The competition was held on August 20, 2004 and on August 21, 2004.77 swimmers from 16 nations competed.-Medalists:...
team by swimming the breaststroke leg in a preliminary heat (Leisel Jones
Leisel Jones
Leisel Marie Jones OAM is an Australian Olympic gold medalist swimmer. A participant in the 2000 Summer Olympics – at just 15 years old – and 2004 Summer Olympics, she was part of gold medal winning Australian team in the women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay at the Athens Games in 2004 and a gold...
swam the breaststroke leg in the final). Jones' selection was the source of much discussion, and rumours spread of conflict between the two. She also won silver in the 100 m breaststroke
Swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Women's 100 metre breaststroke
The women's 100m breaststroke at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held August 15 & 16, 2004 .-Medalist:-Records:The World and Olympic Records at the start of the event were:-Heats:-Semifinals:...
.
Several weeks later, Hanson competed at the 2004 FINA Short Course World Championships
2004 FINA Short Course World Championships
The 7th FINA Short Course World Championships were held at the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA from October 7 through October 11, 2004.-Freestyle:-Backstroke:-Breaststroke:-Butterfly:-Individual:-Relay:-Metal Table:...
in Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. Most of the medal-winners from the recently finished Olympics chose not to attend which allowed Hanson to win six gold medals, five of which were for individual events.
2005 was a difficult year for Hanson. She was defeated by both Jade Edmistone
Jade Edmistone
Jade Edmistone is an Australian breaststroke swimmer, who is the former world-record holder in the 50 m breaststroke at both short and long course formats of the event. She is coached by Stephan Widmar at the Commercial Swim Club in Brisbane...
and Leisel Jones
Leisel Jones
Leisel Marie Jones OAM is an Australian Olympic gold medalist swimmer. A participant in the 2000 Summer Olympics – at just 15 years old – and 2004 Summer Olympics, she was part of gold medal winning Australian team in the women's 4 × 100 metre medley relay at the Athens Games in 2004 and a gold...
in the 50 m and 100 m breaststroke at the Australian Championships. At the 2005 World Aquatics Championships
2005 World Aquatics Championships
The 2005 World Aquatics Championships or the XI FINA World Championships were held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from July 16 to July 31, 2005...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Hanson missed the medals in both the 100 m breaststroke and the 200 m individual medley, but claimed bronze in the 50 m breaststroke.
She admitted after the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
trials that she had been close to retiring. She missed qualification for the 50 m and 100 m breaststroke events, where the three positions were claimed by Jones, Edmistone and Tarnee White
Tarnee White
Tarnee Renee White OAM is an Australian breaststroke swimmer, who won a silver medal in the 4x100m medley relay at the 2000 Sydney Olympics....
respectively. She qualified for the 200 m breaststroke and individual medley, and claimed silver in the latter event behind young team-mate Stephanie Rice
Stephanie Rice
Stephanie Louise Rice OAM is an Australian swimmer. She currently holds the world record in the 400 m women's individual medley, and won three gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. Rice is trained by Michael Bohl from the St Peters Western Swimming Club in Brisbane...
.
She swims with the Nunawading Swimming Club in Melbourne.
In 2006 she joined the health and lifestyle program What's Good For You
What's Good For You
What's Good For You is a Logie Award-winning Australian health and lifestyle television program that airs on the Nine Network. It investigates myths and fables concerning health and well being...
team and is a presenter in the second series of the show. At the 2007 Logies, she was nominated for Most Popular Female New Talent for her role in the show.
On 17 June 2007, Hanson was taken to hospital after collapsing after an apparent electric shock
Electric shock
Electric Shock of a body with any source of electricity that causes a sufficient current through the skin, muscles or hair. Typically, the expression is used to denote an unwanted exposure to electricity, hence the effects are considered undesirable....
after climbing out of a spa at a pool and spa show in Melbourne. An investigation by Energy Safe Victoria found no fault with the spa.
In 2008, she auditioned unsuccessfully for Gladiators for the Seven Network.
Hanson's father is a PR specialist with Swimming Australia and runs Hanson Sports Media an Australian sports media company.
She is married to Jared Clarke and has two children.