Canadian swimmers mourn death of ‘visionary’ coach
RANDY BENNETT ( 1963 — 201 5 )
VICTORIA — Randy Bennett wanted to help Canadian swimmers to become the best in the world.
Over a lengthy coaching career he did just that, helping the likes of Ryan Cochrane reach the podium at the last two Olympic Games.
Bennett died Monday night at age 51, after recently being diagnosed with metastatic malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer.
“We’ve lost a mentor, a visionary, and a friend,” Cochrane said in statement. “Coaching was his passion and his life, and I know he has had a profound impact on my life both in and out of sport. I would not be the athlete or person I am today without him. The values and imagination Randy instilled in all of his athletes will live on and that’s a testament to his love of swimming.”
Bennett, a native of Victoria, served as national team coach at the London Olympics and coached Canada’s top senior teams at every major international competition since 2009. He was with the High Performance Centre-Victoria since 2008 and worked with Cochrane, 2013 world championship medallist Hilary Caldwell and 2012 Olympian Alec Page. Cochrane won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Games and a silver in London four years later, both coming in the 1,500-metre freestyle. “The COC sends its deepest condolences to the family, loved ones and athletes of Randy Bennett who passed away after his battle with cancer,” Canadian Olympic Committee president Marcel Aubut said in a statement. “Randy was an incredible coach who achieved outstanding results on the national and international scenes with his swimmers. He will be sorely missed by the Olympic community, but never forgotten.”
Swimming Canada CEO Ahmed El-Awadi called Bennett “a tremendous example of a dedicated coach.”
“He loved our sport, he cherished his athletes and he proudly represented his family and Canada,” said El-Awadi. “He was a man of remarkable courage and strength of character. His achievements are too numerous to name, but what stands out most is that he inspired others to achieve and they did. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.”
Bennett’s athletes delivered all four of Canada’s swimming medals at the last FINA World Championships in 2013. In addition to two from Cochrane in the 800m and 1,500m, Caldwell emerged with a bronze in the women’s 200m backstroke while Eric Hedlin captured a silver medal in the five-kilometre open-water event.