Ryan Cochrane

Ryan Cochrane

Early Career

Cochrane first began swimming with his twin brother, Devon, in the Red Cross Learn to Swim program. While attending swimming camp at Island Swimming, Cochrane began swimming competitively.

Cochrane began competing internationally in 2006. In his hometown, Cochrane quickly emerged as one of Canada's best swimmers, with a bronze medal finish in the 800 m freestyle at the Pan Pacific Championships. A member of the Junior National Team, Cochrane's performance at the COMMONWEALTH GAMES trial earned him a spot on the Senior National Team to represent Canada at the Games. The 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne became his first of many major international events, where he earned an overall fifth place finish in the 1500 m freestyle.

The next year, Cochrane was determined to improve his performance yet again. The year began at the World Championships in Melbourne, where he broke his own Canadian record in the 800 m freestyle. Later that year, he became the first Canadian ever to break the 15-minute mark in the 1500 m freestyle at the French Open in Paris, recording a second Canadian record.

Olympic Competition

Cochrane's success continued in 2008, when he beat his personal records in both the 400 m and 1500 m freestyle swims at the OLYMPIC GAMES trials, earning him a spot on the national team. At that year's Olympics, at the age of 19, he won the preliminary round of the 1500 m freestyle, setting new Olympic, Commonwealth, and Canadian records. He also won a bronze medal for Canada in the 400 m freestyle.

Continued Success

In 2009, Cochrane won a bronze medal in the 800 m and a silver medal in the 1500 m freestyle at the World Championships. His success crowned him the Omega Swimmer of the Year.

Cochrane's first international gold came at the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships, where he won both the 800 m and 1500 m freestyle events. He then followed this performance with gold at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, in both the 400 m and 1500 m freestyle. In 2011, Cochrane won Canada's first medal in swimming at the FINA World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai, in the 800 m freestyle, once again beating his own Canadian record. Due to his achievements, Cochrane was named male athlete of the year by the Aquatic Federation of Canada in 2011. His athletic prowess was further borne out by a silver medal and a new Canadian record in the 1500m freestyle at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Cochrane is a student at the UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA, and an ambassador for Act Now BC, a provincial initiative aimed at promoting Olympic values and the importance of an active lifestyle to elementary school students.