UP & COMERS BRIAN HAMILTON

UP & COMERS

AGE GROUP SWIMMER OF THE MONTH

BY SHOSHANNA RUTEMILLER | PHOTO BY KWAME HAMILTON

Coral Spring Swim Club’s (Fla.) Brian Hamilton is setting high goals for himself in the pool! In May, just two months after turning 12, he achieved AAA times in the long course 50 and 100 freestyle and 50 butterfly with times of 30.53, 1:04.02 and 32.59. Now he has his sights set on his team’s club records in the 50 and 100 freestyle—a feat he could accomplish by the end of the season!

“Brian consistently brings his ‘A’ game to practice. He leads the lane with pride and never backs down from a challenge,” says Coach Carolyn Kuczynski. “Brian is the most improved swimmer I’ve coached, and he has only scratched the surface of his potential.”

Out of the pool, Hamilton is a straight-A student and member of the National Junior Honor Society. He also loves spending time running around with friends, playing hours of Roblox or binge-watching episodes of Lost in Space.

WHAT IS THE BEST THING YOU DO IN SWIMMING?

My favorite strokes are butterfly and freestyle. My best events are the 50 and 100 butterfly and freestyle.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TOUGHEST WORKOUTS/SETS YOU’VE DONE?

This question was a hard question because there are so many sets that we do every day that are very hard. I would have to say the three most difficult sets that I have done in practice were 10 x 100s best average, a 1,000 kick with fins and a 400 IM for time.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT SWIMMING?

My favorite thing has to be the interaction with other people when we go to out-of-town meets. Another thing I like is getting to know my competition in the All-Star meets. Although we are racing against each other, it is good to make good friendships wherever you go.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR?

One thing that I am looking forward to most this year in the pool is trying to beat the Coral Springs Club record for the 50 and 100 freestyle in long course. In the 50, I am within a second...and in the 100, I am within two seconds of beating these records. Also, one thing that I am looking forward to this year outside of the pool is traveling internationally without restrictions. In the past, my family and I have always traveled for summer to Europe. When the restrictions are lifted for international travel, I am looking forward to revisiting Portugal, which is my favorite country in Europe.

WHO IS SOMEONE YOU LOOK UP TO IN SWIMMING... AND WHY?

Michael Phelps: One reason why I look up to him is because two of his best strokes are butterfly and freestyle...and those strokes are also my best strokes.

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE HOBBIES?

I have a lot of hobbies that I like to do when my swim practice is over, including building Legos, building 3D jigsaw puzzles and playing video games with my friends.v

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