Ryan Cochrane: Canada's Olympic Hero

I do believe that I have posted the above video before, but it provides some good info on Canada's best hope for anything significant on the world stage (at least in my opinion), Ryan Cochrane.

Ryan swims for Randy Bennett at the Victoria Academy of Swimming and competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics in the 400 m freestyle, where he finished ninth in the heats with a Canadian record time of 3:44.85 and failed to qualify for the final. Cochrane also competed in the 1500 m freestyle where he briefly held the Olympic record after swimming a time of 14:40.84 in the heats. This record was soon broken by previous record holder Grant Hackett, who swam a time of 14:38.92.[1] He qualified in second position for the final, and won the bronze medal on August 17.[2] It was the first Olympic medal for a Canadian swimmer since the 2000 Summer Olympics. It was the first medal for Canada in the 1500m freestyle in 88 years.[3]
At the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India Cochrane won Canada's first gold medal of those games in the 400 m freestyle during the first day of competition.[4] Cochrane also became the first Canadian man in 72 years to win gold in the 400 m freestyle at the Commonwealth Games.[4] He then went on to win another gold medal at those games, this time in the 1500 m freestyle.

Below is some youtube video of Ryan and Randy and you can find my previous interview with his coach, Randy, HERE. I believe that Ryan is the guy that Swim Canada should be hanging their hat on (I'm not the only one). I am very excited to see him race and set the standard for the 2012 Olympics.






...And just to stir up some emotion, Ouss Mellouli is a pretty nice guy too...