With the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio just around the corner, Global News is talking to some of B.C.’s most prominent athletes on their way to Olympic glory. Today, we are talking to 27-year-old swimmer Ryan Cochrane, who is heading into his third Olympics in Rio where he will be competing in the 400-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle. Cochrane won bronze medals in both disciplines at last year’s FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia, and is a two-time Olympic medallist in the longer distance, including a silver medal from London, 2012. Ryan is from Victoria and trains at the Swimming Canada High Performance Centre.
What are you looking forward to the most in Rio? We’ve been training non-stop for these Games since the last Olympics, and all that work makes me excited to actually get on the blocks and race in Rio. My parents, as well as a few of my friends, are going to be at the Games watching, and I’m most looking forward to sharing that Olympic experience with them.
What has the last year of training been like for you? Swimmers generally only get a few days off every year, and we, therefore, go non-stop for what feels like years on end. I’ve been training to be at a world-class level for over 10 years now, and I believe all of that work will help me at the Games. This year has been a step above that, with about 200 days on the road, and even fewer breaks than normal. The end goal is very much in sight however, and we will be pushing even more for these last few weeks until August.
What’s your goal in Rio? I would love to better my performances from the last two Games, and I’m fortunate to be able to compete in two events in Rio, which I’m very much looking forward to.
Did you ever see yourself becoming an Olympian? I always wanted to become an Olympian, even before I had found a sport that I excelled at. I had the dream of being a professional athlete from four or five-years old, and while it took me many years to realize that dream, it’s a great memory to keep me motivated when times get tough.
Who has been your greatest influence in your sport? My previous coach Randy Bennett, who passed away last year due to cancer, was by far the biggest influence on my swimming career. We worked together for over 13 years and I wouldn’t be the athlete I am today without his longtime guidance.
Who was most influential in helping you achieve your dreams? While Randy had a profound impact on my success in the pool, my parents also contributed an incredible amount of time and energy into allowing me to succeed. They never once complained about the 4 a.m. mornings or the never-ending weekends on the road. They taught me many of the lessons I needed to succeed by never wavering in their support for my brothers and I at any point in our lives.
If you weren’t an athlete, what would you like to do? I’ve always been interested in law, and I could definitely have seen myself on that path if sport hadn’t taken me away from it.
Do you have any good luck charms/superstitions? No specific superstitions, but I would be lost without music in my pre-competition routine. My iPod is super important in helping me get ready for a race.
What do you do to relax between training? I appreciate spending time at home in Victoria, cooking and seeing family and friends whenever I can. I finished my degree at the University of Victoria in 2014, so it’s been nice to focus purely on swimming since that point and not have to balance too many parts of my life at the same time.
Do you ever have a cheat day? If so, what do you do/eat? I like to think that I eat healthy about 90 per cent of the time. I’ve done my best to create healthy habits, which will stay with me long after I stop competing. That said, I always have cravings for things I shouldn’t have. There’s a ton of great bakeries here in Victoria and they’re my Achilles’ heel for sure. I also am a bit addicted to coffee, another pivotal part of my pre-race routine.
Is anyone in your family or any of your friends hoping to attend the Games to support you? My parents will be coming to Rio and it will be awesome being able to share that experience with them both.
READ MORE for Global News Rio 2016 Coverage
Have you been in Brazil before? I’ve never been to South America, so I’m really looking forward to the new experience and seeing as much of the culture as I can after the Games.
If you have time outside of the Games, where would you like to go or try or eat or drink in Rio? Swimmers are fortunate in that we compete during the first week of the Games, so I’ve left that planning until after we are done. I want to be 100 per cent focused on racing until the day.
Are you concerned about the Zika virus or the political situation in the country? I’ve been dreaming about these Olympics for years on end, and while some of the circumstances are not ideal, I’m incredibly excited to be given this opportunity to race the best in the world and have a chance at an Olympic medal. All things aside, I trust that our team of staff is doing what they need to to ensure our safety and success.
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