page_title: Brent Hayden
section_title: Perseverance and redemption in London 2012
hierarchical_section_title: Brent Hayden / Career / Perseverance and redemption in London 2012
caption_attribution_description: English: Hayden at the Olympic Heroes Parade in Toronto (September 2012)
context_page_description: Brent Matthew Hayden is a Canadian competitive swimmer. Representing Canada for a decade, Hayden is regarded as the fastest swimmer in Canadian history. Hayden won a bronze medal in the 100-metre freestyle at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London with a time of 47.80. He was world champion in the same event in 2007 with Filippo Magnini of Italy. By winning the 100-metre, Hayden became the first Canadian in 21 years to win a gold medal at the World Aquatics Championships, he was also the first Canadian to appear in the 100-metre final at the Olympics since Dick Pound at the 1960 Summer Olympics, and the first Canadian to win an Olympic medal in the 100-metre. Hayden adds a further three silver and one bronze medal to his World Championship totals. In addition, Hayden is currently the Canadian record-holder in the 200-metre, 100-metre and 50-metre freestyle in both the short-course and long-course. He has also held the world record in the 4×100-metre medley relay, and the 4×200-metre freestyle relay.
  Following a 7 year retirement, Brent Hayden announced his comeback in September 2019.
context_section_description: After disappointment struck at the previous two Olympic games for Hayden where he failed to qualify for the 100-metre finals, he became the first Canadian to do so in swimming's glamour event since Dick Pound in 1960. He went on to win bronze medal for Canada at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the 100-metre men's freestyle after a strong start placed him in medal contention at the turn.  Gold and silver went to American Nathan Adrian and world champion James Magnussen of Australia, while Hayden beat out César Cielo and Yannick Agnel for third; the medals were also presented by Dick Pound.  Though only a bronze, the medal was a redemption for Hayden, who was visibly ecstatic at winning an Olympic medal at long last.  With his Olympic medal finally in his possession, he said that "There are so many times when you can dream of something but a million out of a million and one times it won't come true.  This was one of the things that I was very fortunate as a human being to have happen to me." 
  Hayden announced his retirement from the sport after the 4×100-metre medley relay at the Olympics but said he believed in the Canadian swim team to thrive in the future, saying that "I think in the grand scheme of things, with the people we have, we've done an amazing job … As long as we keep that momentum building, I think we're going to see more success come from more diverse events."
caption: Hayden with his London 2012 bronze medal at the Olympic Heroes Parade in Toronto (September 2012)
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