Robin Hanson is one of Sweden’s most promising men’s swimmers, but during the pandemic his career took a dip.
He moved to the United States and began studying, but there the food became a problem.
– Even though I trained over 20 hours a week, I gained four kilos during the first six months, says Robin Hanson.
Robin Hanson will compete in the World Short Course Championships this week and back home in the US he is in his final year at Berkeley, a university that is top ranked in the US, not only in swimming but also academically.
Here, greats trained by Michael Phelps, the most successful Olympian of all time.
– It is a special feeling to train and compete with a team. Swimming is usually a very individual sport, says Robin.
Bets further on home ground
With Robin on the final stretch, Berkeley won the team race in America’s biggest college competition, the NCAA, last spring. Success that doesn’t come for free.
Early morning training is combined with tough studies, where the 23-year-old from Järfälla has chosen economics as his main subject.
The competition in the pool from the other students is fierce, and as the Swedish record holder in the 200 meter freestyle, constantly going for a stroke in training has been a great mental challenge.
– It takes a lot on self-confidence. It builds confidence to do a workout and perform something no one else has done. But here we have 40 guys who have done the same and some better, says Robin.
Robin will graduate in May next year. Then a move home to Sweden awaits, where he will combine his continued investment with a finance job.
– It is too early to say that I am going to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, but in the summer of 2026 I want to perform at my best, says Robin.