It took a while, but Ryan Cochrane is lastly making his entrance with the University of Victoria swim team. Cochrane, who’s been studying at the school for five years, will suit up for the UVic team on Thursday at the CIS national swimming championships in Calgary. Not that the Victoria native hasn’t made good use of his time: He won the bronze medal in 1,500-metre freestyle at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, two medals at the 2009 world championships in Rome and two gold medals at the 2010 Delhi Common wealth Games.
“With all the travel and training due to the international meets, there hasn’t really been the time or opportunity to battle in the CIS,” said Cochrane, a psychology major.“But now the opportunity presented itself and it feels nice to be able to swim for UVic and be part of the Vikes squad.“It’s going to be a different type of thing with a real team environment.”A break in his international preparation schedule Cochrane’s Common wealth Games performance last fall pre-qualified him for the 2011 world championships this July in Shanghai allowed him to make his first Vikes appearance.
It’s improbable he will be able to again next year, when all the focus will be on preparing for the 2012 London Summer Olympics. Cochrane is one of two Beijing Olympians the Vikes have added for the CIS championships, with Stephanie Horner of Beaconsfield, Que., a move from Auburn University in the NCAA ranks. Another international swimmer being added to the Vikes roster for the CIS nationals is Richard Weinberger of Victoria, who won bronze at the 2010 Pan-Pacific championships in Irvine, Calif.
“With all the travel and training due to the international meets, there hasn’t really been the time or opportunity to battle in the CIS,” said Cochrane, a psychology major.“But now the opportunity presented itself and it feels nice to be able to swim for UVic and be part of the Vikes squad.“It’s going to be a different type of thing with a real team environment.”A break in his international preparation schedule Cochrane’s Common wealth Games performance last fall pre-qualified him for the 2011 world championships this July in Shanghai allowed him to make his first Vikes appearance.
It’s improbable he will be able to again next year, when all the focus will be on preparing for the 2012 London Summer Olympics. Cochrane is one of two Beijing Olympians the Vikes have added for the CIS championships, with Stephanie Horner of Beaconsfield, Que., a move from Auburn University in the NCAA ranks. Another international swimmer being added to the Vikes roster for the CIS nationals is Richard Weinberger of Victoria, who won bronze at the 2010 Pan-Pacific championships in Irvine, Calif.
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