Nationally recognized in rugby, swimming
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GOLD COAST, Australia — Two Australian brothers — raised in their country's leisure hub otherwise known as 'Surfer's Paradise' on the east coast of the Australian continent — are fast becoming nationally recognized in their particular sporting fields. Ben Hannant, 18, is one of Australia's rising rugby stars. His brother, Ephraim Hannant, 15, is a world-recognized swimmer.
Ben recently completed a five-week tour of Europe competing in the Schoolboys National Team against England and France. He credits the support of his parents and 11 siblings, members of the Gold Coast Australia Stake, and fellow team members for much of his success and recent selection in both the Queensland state and Australian national rugby teams. Ben said that rugby training always requires total commitment, and that commitment comes easily to him, thanks to the lessons he has learned through membership in the Church.
"A lot of the discipline that I apply in training I have learned at Church. Being a good Latter-day Saint requires discipline in order to succeed, such as early morning seminary classes, daily prayer, fasting and the Word of Wisdom. Peer group pressure can really make it hard to stick to these ideals but the benefits — physical, mental and spiritual — certainly outweigh anything society claims we miss. And I always say a prayer before every game," said Ben .
Ephraim is dominating the pools as much as his brother is the rugby fields. Twice awarded Queensland Age Champion for swimming and recently listed as a national champion, Ephraim has earned a world ranking for his age group in swimming. Ephraim was only 10 when he earned his first swimming medal. That medal now sits buried alongside an array of trophies that include four gold and four silver medals recently won in the Queensland State Swimming Championships. Ephraim not only made the finals in each of the eight individual events he entered at this meet, but also collected either first or second place in each of these events. Many would consider this haul alone to be the greatest result, but Ephraim claimed that he was more interested in beating his personal best times, which he did for every one of these swims.
Ephraim has now been selected for the National Youth Squad and as a member of the Queensland State Team. Swimming for the state of Queensland at the recent Australian Nationals, Ephraim was victorious in claiming gold for the 400 meter individual medley and two silver medals in the 200 and 400 meter freestyle. With his sights now firmly set on the Athens 2004 Olympics and the 2006 Commonwealth Games, Ephraim is swimming miles each day in preparation for these goals. Training twice daily, six days a week, and rising each day at 4:30 a.m. to be in the water by 5 a.m,, Ephraim is working toward becoming a world best.
Ephraim said that his greatest encouragement at a swim meet comes from his "cheer squad" that is made up of family and ward members.
