Simply the best

NEA Today, Sep 1999

You may not have seen it on ESPN or read about it in your local newspaper's sports section, but the United States won the gold in the 1998 World Team Cup wheelchair tennis competition. Heading up the four-member team was number one world-ranked California physical education teacher Brian Hanson.

The competition took place in Barcelona, Spain, at the Olympic Tennis Venue. Hanson, a teacher at Lincoln and Bunker Elementary Schools in Newark, played against three countries-Japan. England. and France-in the open quad division and won all three matches.

"I have participated in sports all my life and watched the Olympics on TV," says Hanson. "To be able to represent the United States and bring home the gold was just incredible.'

After suffering a sporting accident in college. Hanson was introduced to wheelchair tennis by the Ohio State University women's tennis coach. He kept with it. training 10-15 hours a week. and competed in tournaments all over the worid.

Through it all. Hanson hasn't let fame go to his head "I don't tell my students much about it." says Hanson. "I guess I am just not one to show off my awards.'