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Hannah McLean

Melbourne Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Hannah McLean has been a water baby all her life, and plans to continue that way for a lot longer too.

Hannah started swimming competitively at an early age. She first joined Mount Eden swim club, where she progressed to the senior-level team before joining the North Shore club aged 12 - and she's been there ever since.

Primarily a backstroke swimmer, Hannah also competes in freestyle and the medley relay.

She was North Harbour Sportswoman of the Year in 2005 and 2006, was part of the 2006 World Class Swimming New Zealand training squad, and was a finalist for the Sportswoman of the Year in the 2007 Halberg Awards.

With one Olympics (Athens), two Commonwealth Games (Manchester and Melbourne), one Commonwealth bronze and one World Championship bronze under her belt, Hannah is aiming for the big one next year - Olympic gold.

Sport highlight (up to April 2007): Setting the Commonwealth Games record in the backstroke leg of the medley relay at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

Photos
Thumbnail Description
Hannah warms up for the 100 m Backstroke heat at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
Warming up

Hannah McLean warms up for the 100 m Backstroke heat at the 2006 Commonwealth Games at the Sports and Aquatic Centre, Melbourne, on 17 March, 2006. Hannah won bronze in the 200 m Backstroke final. (Photo: Sport the Library/Photosport)
Hannah McLean in the 200 m backstroke at the swimming trials for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
CWG trials

Hannah McLean in the 200 m Backstroke at the swimming trials for the 2006 Commonwealth Games at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatics Centre. (Photo: Sport the Library/Photosport)
Hannah breaks a New Zealand record, coming 5th in the 100 m backstroke at the 2005 World Champs.
In action

Hannah McLean breaks a New Zealand record, coming 5th in the 100 m backstroke at the 2005 World Champs in Montreal.
Hannah at the starting block preparing to race.
Starting block

Hannah McLean prepares to race in the Women's 50 m Backstroke heat at the New Zealand Spring Swimming Competition at Moana Pools, Dunedin, on 27 September, 2006. (Photo: Hannah Johnston/Photosport)
Hannah McLean (centre) with members from the New Zealand swim team at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
Relaxing at the Games

Hannah McLean (centre left) with members from the New Zealand swim team at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
On the podium

Hannah McLean after winning a Bronze medal in the Women's 200 m Backstoke Swimming Final at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games on 20 March 2006. (Photo: Michael Bradley/Photosport)
Hannah McLean produces a brilliant lead off in the backstroke leg of the Women's 4 x 100 m Medley relay at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
Leading off

Hannah McLean produces a brilliant 1:00.83 lead off in the backstroke leg of the Women's 4 x 100 m Medley relay on Day 6 of the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. Hannah's performance broke her New Zealand and the Commonwealth Games record, with the time good enough to have won gold in the individual race. (Photo: Joe Mann/Photosport)
Hannah McLean and other medal winners from the New Zealand swim team at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
Medal winners line up

Hannah McLean (centre right) joins some of the other medal winners from the New Zealand swim team at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
Videos
Thumbnail Description
Hannah McLean tells us how important the support of her family has been to her success.
Family support (30 sec)

Hannah McLean tells us how important the support of her family has been to her success.

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Hannah McLean explains the importance of her relationship with her coaches and support team.
Coaches (52 sec)

Hannah McLean explains the importance of her relationship with her coaches and support team.

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Hannah McLean talks about what it was like standing on the podium at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
On the podium (39 sec)

Hannah McLean talks about what it was like standing on the podium at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games.

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Hannah McLean talks about the highs and lows of competing overseas.
Competing overseas (59 sec)

Hannah McLean talks about the highs and lows of competing overseas.

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Facts/Info

Name: Hannah McLean.

Sport: Swimming.

Discipline: Backstroke mainly, but also freestyle/medley relays.

DOB: 1 July 1981.

Height: 176 cm.

Weight: 63 kg.

New Zealand Academy of Sport region: New Zealand Academy of Sport - North.

Current location: North Shore, Auckland.

Coaches: Jan Cameron, Thomas Ansorg.

Support team: Partner Ashton Welsh, parents Sue and Colin, brother Campbell, flatmate Heather Galbraith, and a wonderful extended network of family and friends. Also strength and conditioning trainer Brad Conza, physio Jordan Salesa, massage therapists Clint Knox and Jessica Cooper, Dr Lynne Coleman, and sports psychologist Craig Steel from Steel Performance.

Club: North Shore Swimming Club.

Sponsors: SPARC (through the New Zealand Academy of Sport), Albany Toyota, Mike Allen (USANA), re:ab Pilates Studio, Steel Performance and Oliver's Hair Salon (Takapuna).

Job: Full-time swimmer.

Education: Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English (University of Auckland).

International experience

Event - Location - Time - Place

50 m Backstroke - 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games - 28.89 - Fourth

100 m Backstroke - 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games - 1.00.83 - Fourth

4 x 100 m Freestyle (NZ Representative Relays) - 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games (L Boyle, A Fitch, H Norfolk, H Mclean) - 3.43.49 - Fourth

4 x 100 m Medley Relay (NZ Representative Relays) - 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games (E Coster, A Fitch, H McLean, A Carey) - 4.06.30 - Fourth

50 m Backstroke FINA 2006 World Short Course Champs - China - 27.75 - Fifth

100 m Backstroke FINA 2006 World Short Course Champs - China - 58.60 - Fourth

4 x 100 Freestyle (NZ Representative Relays), FINA 2006 World Short Course Champs (L Boyle, A Fitch, H Norfolk, H McLean) - China 
- 3.37.70 - Fourth

4 x 100 Medley (NZ Representative Relays), FINA 2006 World Short Course Champs (H McLean, K Bentley, L Coster, A Fitch) - China - 4.02.75 - Sixth

50 m Backstroke, FINA 2007 World Champs - Melbourne - 29.22 - Semi-finals

100 m Backstroke, FINA 2007 World Champs - Melbourne - 1.01.80 - Semi-finals

200 m Backstroke, FINA 2007 World Champs - Melbourne - 2.12.58 - Semi-finals

Medal-winning international experience

200 m Backstroke Final - Bronze Medal - 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games

200m Backstroke Final - Bronze Medal - 2006 Shanghai World Short Course Champs

 

Updated | 05 Sep 2007.

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