[media-credit name=’MEGHAN CONLIN/Herald Photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]Senior swimmer Michael Hamm knows what it's like to hang out with Olympic medalists. After all, his cousins are gymnasts Paul (who won the all-around competition at Athens in 2004) and Morgan Hamm, who have competed in the last two summer Olympics.

"I actually haven't seen his gold medal," Hamm said of Paul. "He doesn't bring it around to family events."

Just like his famous cousins, Hamm has tried to make a name for himself as his career at UW comes to a close.

As the lone senior on the men's swim team, Hamm will be competing next week in his final swim meet, the Big Ten Championships. Hamm specializes in three events — 200-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle and the mile — all of which he will contend at the championships.

Hamm is also a key asset for UW's 800-yard freestyle relay, a relay that still has yet to qualify for the NCAA Championships in March.

If that relay does qualify at the Big Ten Championships, Hamm will be able to finish his career at the NCAA Championships — something most Badger swimmers aspire to.

"Best case scenario would be for him to qualify and move on to the NCAA Championships in the 800 relay," head coach Eric Hansen said. "But I also think he can contribute in the 200 as well as the 500."

Hamm, a native of Waukesha, almost left the state after high school to swim elsewhere.

"I almost went to Iowa," Hamm said. "They recruited me for a long time but then asked me to walk on."

Wisconsin didn't start recruiting Hamm until late in his senior year, but once they did, it became an easy decision for him.

"I just thought it would be a good fit," he said. "Besides, both my parents went here and so did my older sisters."

Hamm has already started to make plans for when he leaves UW. He is majoring in philosophy and will graduate next December. He plans to attend graduate school to continue studying philosophy.

One of Hamm's proudest achievements has been his selection as a captain for the last two years.

"Being captain for two years has been a pretty cool experience," Hamm said. "Being the old guy on the team, I enjoy trying to help out the younger guys as much as I can."

Hansen has especially been impressed with Hamm's effort and focus.

"He's been consistent," Hansen said. "He is a guy you can count on to show up and give it his best every day."

Hansen also said Hamm's leadership qualities have been a big asset to the team over the last two years.

"He's not our most talented guy on the team, but that doesn't give you leadership," Hansen said. "Consistency and respect do."

Hamm said the one thing he will miss the most about Wisconsin will be his teammates.

"The guys I have swam with here have been awesome," he said. "Being the only male in my class pretty much since my freshman year has been kind of weird, but it has been a blessing since I had to get to know everyone right away."

Right now Hamm is preparing and focusing on a strong showing at his final Big Ten Championships. He has set lofty goals for himself and his coach is expecting a strong performance as well.

"We have high hopes for Michael and I'm sure he has the same," Hansen said.

As for his famous cousins, Hamm has shown nothing but pride.

"That was really cool when Paul won the all-around gold," he said. "I know how hard he worked for it and he really deserved it."

Hamm also said nothing has changed with how he views his cousins since their success in Athens.

"It's a little weird because everyone knows him as Paul Hamm the gymnast," he said. "But I usually don't think of him that way."

To him they are just Paul and Morgan, his friends and cousins. But maybe one day Paul will show him that gold medal.