Ben Hesen fell short in 2008 for a bid to represent Team USA in the 100-meter backstroke, but revisited the possibility as the 2012 games quickly approached. Hesen, a former swimmer at Illinois, reached out to Gator and Team USA swim coach Gregg Troy about training in North Central Florida, and the former NCAA champion put in the work to regain the form that made him one of the best backstrokers in the country. Hesen made it all the way to the 100-meter backstroke finals at the US Swimming Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, but ultimately finished in fourth place (53.03). Only first and second place finishes advance to London, so Hesen fell short of his Olympic dream by less than two-tenths of a second.