Canadian swim coach Randy Bennett passed away late Monday evening after battling cancer. Bennett was 51 years old.
Bennett stepped off-deck in February to begin radiation therapy.
“Randy faced cancer, malignant melanoma, with the same tenacity with which he coached,” said national team physician Steve Keeler, who had been acting as Bennett’s primary physician throughout this situation, working alongside a team of specialists. “Despite the rapid progression of his disease Randy remained focused on his family and the athletes he coached. His strength through this journey was impressive.”
Bennett was originally diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer earlier in the year, but the diagnosis was later revised to metastatic malignant melanoma.
Bennett was the head coach of Canada’s senior national teams at every major international competition since 2009, including at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games where 7 of his athletes represented Canada. In between these major competitions, he served as the head coach of Island Swimming in British Columbia.
Among his honors include winning the Swimming Canada Coach of the Year Award for male athletes in 2008, 2009, 2010,2011,2012 for his work with Olympic medalist Ryan Cochrane.
Services for Bennett have not been announced yet.
I did not know Randy personally; my kids are swimmers. Our prayers to his
family. May God give you the strength to go through each day. Take your time to
grieve and lean on each other as you walk through getting to your new normal.
Cherish the memories and know that we will keep you in our daily prayers.
Peace be with you all.
I did not know Randy personally; my kids are swimmers. Our prayers to his
family. May God give you the strength to go through each day. My kids lost
their dear father and my beloved husband in an accident in 2012. Take your time to
grief and lead on each other as you walk through getting to your new normal.
Cherish the memories and know that we will keep you in our daily prayers.
Peace be with you all.
Very sad day. I don’t know what to say besides that I had the up-most respect for him as a coach and as a person. He always took the time to chat on the pool deck not just about swimming but about life. My thoughts are with his family, swimmers and friends. I will always remember you my friend.
I met Randy through swimming but he wasn’t my coach. He did, though, become my friend. He was good one, too. And a good father and a good husband.
It’s a real sad day.
I was on deck on a junior team tour in Australia and had the fortune to work with Randy for a brief time. There is no question I changed for the better as a coach as a result of what I learned from him that trip. Subsequent conversations at meets furthered my knowledge.
I am so so sad for his family and I am deeply appreciative of the time he spent away from them making us Canadian coaches and swimmers better.
Who did he coach? I send my prayers to his family.
The biggest name that he’s coached is Ryan Cochrane. But also Hilary Caldwell, Alec Page and Julia Wilkinson to name a few.
Coach Randy Bennett will always be remembered with much respect by his swimmers and all who knew of him and his talents. A very special coach – my sincere condolences to his family, friends and swimmers.
All of us at The Race Club wish to offer our deepest condolences to Randy’s family. He shall remain in our prayers. I had the pleasure of watching Randy coach on several occasions in Islamorada and I can honestly say that the world has lost one of the it’s finest swimming coaches. He inspired and trained his athletes like few others could. We will miss him, his warm personality and his infectious smile.