Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

Longtime Canadian Swim Coach Randy Bennett Dies Of Cancer At 51

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Apr, 2015 10:43 AM
    VICTORIA — Longtime Canadian swim coach Randy Bennett, who helped Victoria's Ryan Cochrane reach the podium at the last two Summer Olympics, has died.
     
    Swimming Canada says he passed away Monday night at the age of 51.
     
    Bennett was recently diagnosed with metastatic malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer.
     
    The Victoria native served as national team coach at the London Olympics and has coached Canada's top senior teams at every major international competition since 2009. He has been 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.
     
    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 800 and 1,500, Caldwell emerged with a bronze in women's 200-metre backstroke while Eric Hedlin captured a silver medal in the five-kilometre open-water event.
     
    Over the years, Bennett had also worked with Marianne Limpert, Rick Say, Julia Wilkinson and Mike Mintenko.
     
    "Randy was always focused on high performance in everything he did," said Swimming Canada high performance director John Atkinson. "He will be greatly missed by all in swimming. Our thoughts are with his family at this time."
     
    Bennett is survived by his wife, Lesley, and two teenage sons, Brett and Kyle.
     
    "Despite the rapid progression of his disease Randy remained focused on his family and the athletes he coached," said national team physician Steve Keeler, who had been acting as Bennett's primary physician, working alongside a team of specialists. "His strength through this journey was impressive."
     
    Ryan Mallette of the Canadian Sport Institute, who had been filling in during Bennett's illness, will continue to oversee the Canadian senior swimmers, Swimming Canada said.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Cancer Patient, 84, Hopes Insurance Company Will Pay For Flood Damage

    Cancer Patient, 84, Hopes Insurance Company Will Pay For Flood Damage
    An 84-year-old Ontario woman is hoping that a major insurance company will change its mind about refusing to cover the cost of flood damage to her home that occurred while she was out of town receiving cancer treatment.

    Cancer Patient, 84, Hopes Insurance Company Will Pay For Flood Damage

    Budget Day With One Thing Assured: Black Ink For The First Time In Seven Years

    Budget Day With One Thing Assured: Black Ink For The First Time In Seven Years
    OTTAWA — It's budget day in the national capital and with a federal vote due to arrive by — if not on — the fixed date of Oct. 19, it's also the unofficial launch of the 2015 campaign.

    Budget Day With One Thing Assured: Black Ink For The First Time In Seven Years

    Key Witness In Sen. Mike Duffy Trial Postponed Due To Health Problems

    Key Witness In Sen. Mike Duffy Trial Postponed Due To Health Problems
    OTTAWA — A key witness in the trial of suspended Senator Mike Duffy has postponed his appearance because of serious health problems.

    Key Witness In Sen. Mike Duffy Trial Postponed Due To Health Problems

    Documents Alleging Man Had Beans To Make Ricin Don't Reflect All Facts: Lawyer

    Documents Alleging Man Had Beans To Make Ricin Don't Reflect All Facts: Lawyer
    CHARLOTTETOWN — The lawyer for a Prince Edward Island man says court documents that allege his client had the castor beans necessary to produce the deadly toxin ricin should be viewed with skepticism.

    Documents Alleging Man Had Beans To Make Ricin Don't Reflect All Facts: Lawyer

    Battle Of Ypres A Baptism Of Fire For Fledgling Force Of Canadians

    Battle Of Ypres A Baptism Of Fire For Fledgling Force Of Canadians
    OTTAWA — The first hint Pte. Alfred Baggs had that something was wrong came when a horse-drawn French ammunition wagon rattled past his startled foot patrol late in the afternoon amid the chalky, ruined streets of Vlamertinghe, a Belgian town.

    Battle Of Ypres A Baptism Of Fire For Fledgling Force Of Canadians

    RCMP Issue Warning After Man Found Dead And Woman Attacked On Same Burnaby Block

    RCMP Issue Warning After Man Found Dead And Woman Attacked On Same Burnaby Block
    Police say the woman was walking home around 1:40 a.m. Sunday when a man attacked her from behind and knocked her to the ground (near Smith Avenue and Gilpin Street).

    RCMP Issue Warning After Man Found Dead And Woman Attacked On Same Burnaby Block