Hannah Siaz
Hannah Siaz
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
US National Team Member | U.S. Open Champion | NCAA Division III Champion
College: Kenyon College
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
- USA Swimming
- 2016-17 US National Team Member
- 2016 U.S. Open Champion (200 Butterfly)
- 2016 AT&T Winter Nationals Champion (200 Butterfly)
- NCAA Division III Standout (Kenyon College)
- NCAA Division III National Champion (200 Butterfly and Relays)
- Extensive Coaching Experience
- Collegiate Level: Army West Point, Boston University, St. Norbert College, Kenyon College
BIO
Hannah Saiz is a U.S. National Team member and NCAA Champion who boasts one of the most unique and inspiring journeys in American swimming. Born in Anchorage, Alaska, and raised in Plattsburgh, New York, Hannah wasn’t always pegged as a future swimming star. However, through relentless problem-solving and an unbreakable work ethic, she developed into a powerhouse at Kenyon College, capturing the NCAA Division III title in the 200-yard butterfly.
Refusing to let the end of college be the end of her career, Hannah continued to train professionally. In 2016, she achieved the rare feat of making the U.S. National Team as a Division III athlete, capturing titles in the 200-meter butterfly at both the U.S. Open and the AT&T Winter Nationals. Following her elite racing career, Hannah has poured her passion into coaching, building an extensive resume that spans high school, club, and Division I and Division III collegiate programs. She brings a deep love for the sport, a wealth of technical knowledge, and an underdog mentality to every swimmer she mentors.
FROM THE CLINICIAN
Work works: I was not a natural talent. But the B- or C+ student who has to outwork their A+ peers is usually the best tutor, because they have to learn a lot more ways to solve the problem. Not having an easy journey made me more aware of all the ways I had to learn and problem-solve, and that has directly impacted how I coach and motivate.
Falling in Love with the Journey: At one point, I was told to quit swimming and that I wasn’t good enough. That actually made me realize that I was doing this for me, not for the people around me. It made me fall in love with the journey above all else. Even falling short of my goal to break an NCAA record kept me rolling in the sport; I found more in it than I thought I would, and went further than I thought I would. Doing the “pro life” was all about figuring out how to balance time at the pool with being a human being. I asked “What if I can?” more than “What if I can’t?”
Engagement, Joy, and Storytelling: My first priority is safety. My second is to trick everyone into thinking swimming is the best thing in the entire world! And, barring that, I want to at least help kids have a good time learning more about themselves and maybe pick up a few “party tricks” from swimming that can help them later in life. Swimming gave me something I loved. I want to give everyone the opportunity to find something that brings them joy, and to see swimming as a vehicle for learning more about who you are as a person.
Lessons for the Real World: Look where you want to go. Because of swimming, I can eat more ice cream than most other 34-year-olds. I can almost keep up with my dog when he’s chasing squirrels. And most importantly, I know that when things are hard in “the real world,” I’ve done hard things before.
