Victoria, BC – Canada鈥檚 most decorated international swimmer is retiring, leaving an unfillable hole in the national team but also an unmatched legacy.
Victoria鈥檚 Ryan Cochrane made the announcement this morning on the as well as in an interview with Scott Russell.
鈥淪ince the Games in Rio, I鈥檝e been asked time and time again what my plan for the future holds. I have been flipping back and forth with gut-reaction emotions, moments of rational perspective, and oh-so-many moments of absolute uncertainty. Today though, I鈥檓 announcing my retirement from competitive swimming, starting a new chapter in my life and looking to find something that will provide me with new purpose and goals to chase,鈥 said Cochrane, 28.
Cochrane won his first major medal in 2006, made his FINA World Championships debut in 2007, then stepped on the Olympic podium with bronze in his signature 1,500-metre freestyle at the Beijing 2008 Games.
That launched an eight-year run of medals at 12 straight major international championships, including silver at the London 2012 Olympics. His eight long-course world championship medals are the most all-time by a Canadian.
Cochrane鈥檚 ascendance couldn鈥檛 have come at a better time for Canada, which had been shut out in Athens 2004. He helped restore pride in Canadian swimming, and carried the torch to give a new generation hope that medals were possible. Although he finished out of the medals in Rio 2016, he was co-captain at his third Olympics, and many credited him with laying the foundation that inspired the young team to believe they could reach new heights.
鈥淔or years and years we鈥檝e talked about winning. This team was here to win medals,鈥 Cochrane said after making his third straight Olympic 1,500 final, in which he finished sixth. 鈥淚t was exhilarating to be on a team that never backed down, who won medal after medal, and normalized the Olympic podium. Seeing teammates constantly step onto the podium, knowing how much their lives changed in that moment, made Rio a magical place.鈥
The previous year may have been his most impressive considering the circumstances. Cochrane earned gold in the 400-m and 1,500-m freestyle at the Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games, setting Games records in both. He went on to win his seventh and eighth world championship medals later that summer in Kazan, Russia, and earned Swimming Canada鈥檚 Male Swimmer of the Year award for the eighth straight time. Those achievements are even more impressive considering the difficult year he and his teammates faced due to the death of High Performance Centre 鈥 Victoria coach Randy Bennett.
鈥淩epresenting Canada at the Pan Am Games as well as the world championships was incredible and I鈥檓 thankful to have had the opportunity to stand on the podium multiple times,鈥 Cochrane said. 鈥淲e went right back to work after Randy passed away because that鈥檚 what he鈥檇 want us to do. I think we did everything possible to be the best athletes we could be in the water. We really pushed ourselves but that being said the emotional toll at the end of the year was tough.鈥
Bennett once described Cochrane鈥檚 incredible consistency as 鈥渓ike clockwork鈥 and he had continued it with Bennett鈥檚 coaching successor Ryan Mallette. In addition to thanking both coaches when announcing his retirement, Cochrane thanked his parents, teammates and supporters.
鈥淚t鈥檚 bittersweet to leave the incredible team we鈥檝e created at the Swimming Canada High Performance Centre 鈥 Victoria. I was constantly reminded of the sacrifice and dedication it takes from so many people in order for me and countless others to go after our version of an Olympic dream. Without everyone鈥檚 guidance and expertise, I likely would have found little success on my journey,鈥 he said.
Cochrane won 27 A national championships, represented Canada in 16 different countries, won 24 major international medals and was ranked for 11 consecutive years in the world鈥檚 Top 8 in at least one event.
Cochrane鈥檚 importance to the national team, Canadian swimming, and Canadian amateur sport as a whole cannot be understated. A who鈥檚 who of the swimming and sporting world expressed their praise for the outstanding athlete and person.
Post via