The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/480355
INSIDE MICHIGAN ATHLETICS Sports he plays besides swimming: "I used to play cricket and rugby. I played cricket a lot more than rugby. I played for most of my high school career and was pretty good at it, but I gave it up for swimming." Hobbies: "I'm a pretty relaxed guy. I just sit back and hang out with friends. Five months ago, I found a pretty awesome girl to hang out with so I go on dates with my girlfriend and go on walks in The Arboretum. I like to relax when I have down time." Dream vacation: "Probably somewhere in Europe where I can do absolutely nothing for a while. I'd like to just sit on the beach and not think about swimming for a little while." Favorite sports venue he's been to: "I must say, coming from South Africa and seeing Michigan's facilities took my breath away. I'm going to say my favorite place that I've ever seen is either Canham Natatorium or The Big House. They are both so impressive. If not those, I'd say the pool at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland." Favorite professional athlete: "Probably Michael Phelps. I have actually met him. I met him in May right after I broke the NCAA record. We were at a meet to- gether and he kind of knew who I was because of our athletic trainer. I introduced myself to him and he was like, 'Hey, you're the guy who broke my record,' and I was just like, 'Yeah.' We were in a warm-down pool so it was quick, but very cool." Role model: "I'd definitely say my brother, Cameron. He's currently working in Dubai, but I don't think I'd be swimming if it weren't for him. He swam for probably eight years and was very dominant over that time. He's three years older than I am and he taught me a lot. I really look up to him." Why he chose swimming over cricket: "There was a chance for me to go to England and play cricket for my high school and probably for a cricket team, but I always wanted to come to the States and fulfill my dream of swimming collegiately. I thought that I could make it further in swimming than I could in cricket because cricket was such a dominant sport back home." What he hopes to do after swimming at Michigan: "I'm definitely going to swim in 2017 after the Olympics and see how it goes. I want to give it one more year after I'm done with collegiate swimming and see how it goes internationally. After that, I'll probably go into grad school. I'm studying sports management right now so maybe an internship. I don't really know what I'm good at in the business world, so we'll see." His overall U-M experience: "Unbelievable. It's been the time of my life. I have met my best friends and so many great people. I have met an awesome girlfriend. The whole experience has been the time of my life and I don't think I'm going to leave and go back home. It has had huge impact on my life and I can't wait to see where it gets me to." — Brandon Brown