Ryan Cochrane of Victoria, who won two Olympic medals and almost singlehandedly kept Canadian swimming afloat though an otherwise shallow era, is expected to announce his retirement today at age 28.
Cochrane, who lost his coach and mentor Randy Bennett to cancer last year, has called a news conference for this morning at Saanich Commonwealth Place.
sa国际传媒 did not win an Olympic swimming medal at Athens in 2004 and took only rookie Olympian Cochrane鈥檚 breakthrough bronze medal in the 1,500-metre freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. There were two Canadian pool medals at the 2012 London Olympics, including Cochrane鈥檚 silver in the 1,500 freestyle.
While Canadian swimming exploded for a breakout six medals, all from females, at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Cochrane faded to sixth place as it became evident that a new international generation had surpassed him in the 1,500-metre freestyle.
鈥淚 was so gutted after Rio. This seemed like a natural point for a transition,鈥� said Cochrane, who is beginning a career with a Victoria software company.
鈥淚t will be hard to close the swim chapter of my life. But I am grateful I have been able to make the decision myself. It has been an incredible journey. I never thought I would swim on the national team for 12 years.鈥�
Cochrane finishes with a Canadian record 22 career international medals in the 400, 800 and 1,500 freestyle events. His personal pantheon includes two medals in the Olympics, eight at the world championships, six at the Pan Pacific championships, four golds in the Commonwealth Games and two golds in the Pan聽Am Games.
