For the Hansen family, swimming is just in the blood. 

St. Petersburg-based siblings Brinkleigh, Sawyer and Karrington will represent Team USA in the World Aquatics Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in Santa Fe, Argentina Sept. 3 – 6. They will be joined by St. Petersburg Aquatics teammate Ansley Bess. 

The athletes all have connections to St. Petersburg High School. Sawyer, Brinkleigh and Ansley are current students. Karrington, who is an alumni, is a swimmer at the University of Kentucky. 

More than 10 young people will represent Team USA in the World Aquatics Junior Open Water Swimming Championships. Previously, Argentina has hosted 34 World Aquatics events. Open water competitions take place in natural bodies of water such as oceans, lakes and rivers. 

The upcoming event is not Brinkleigh’s first time representing Team USA. Earlier this month, the junior participated in a 10-kilometer race at the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in California. 

“I never get used to the feeling and I don’t think anybody ever does because it’s so crazy,” Brinkleigh said. “So many people dream of this and I get to be a part of it and live it. So, I think that’s really important and I always keep that in the back of my head when I’m racing.”

Brinkleigh Hansen swimming at a Tuesday practice at the North Shore Aquatic Complex in St. Petersburg.

She explained that seeing Karrington swim inspired her to pursue the sport. Florida’s tropical environment was also a factor. 

Preparation is intense. Brinkleigh and her teammates usually train six days a week. They even have double practices on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 

“I’m looking forward to spending time with my family and teammates,” she said. “I think this is such a cool opportunity that may only come once in this lifetime, so I’m really excited for it.” 

Brinkleigh added that one of the biggest challenges of her swimming career has been trying to maintain a calm mindset while handling the pressures that come with racing. She hopes to represent Team USA in the 2028 Summer Olympics, which is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles. 

The young athlete explained that open water swimming may be “on the chopping block” for the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane, Australia.  

“I don’t think this sport should go away,” Brinkleigh said. “It really shows the nature side of things. We’re always going to have that. I think it’s very important to support new, up-and-coming sports like open water.” 

Sawyer is also looking forward to joining his family. 

“I was actually kind of forced into swimming when I was a little kid,” he explained. “My parents were swimmers and they wanted to get me into the sport too. I just started to really love the sport and grew into it and really enjoyed it as I grew up.”

Sawyer Hansen swimming at a Tuesday practice at the North Shore Aquatic Complex.

Sawyer, a sophomore, was selected for the World Aquatics Junior Open Water Swimming Championships in April. He explained that all of the “hard, intense training” paid off. 

“It’s my first international trip and first time representing Team USA,” Sawyer said. “I’m going to meet a bunch of new people and make new friends. Being out of the country is going to be a lot of fun.” 

Sawyer hopes to continue to swim in college and pursue a professional career. Competing in the Olympics is his long-term goal. 

Ansley, who is a freshman, explained that she initially pursued gymnastics as a sport. Her cousin would inspire her to swim. It was only a matter of time before Ansley wanted to try something new. 

The athlete does not take the opportunity “lightly.” 

“I’m looking forward to meeting people and am definitely excited to race and learn a bunch of things from people who have been on these trips before,” Ansley said. “I definitely hope to do more meets like this on the international stage.”