Randy Bennett, longtime Canadian coach who worked with Olympic swimmers, dies at 51

VICTORIA – Longtime Canadian swim coach Randy Bennett has died at 51.

Swimming Canada, the sport’s domestic governing body, says he died Monday night. Bennett recently was diagnosed with skin cancer.

Bennett was the national coach at the 2012 London Olympics and has coached Canada’s top senior teams at every major international competition since 2009.

He helped Ryan Cochrane win a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Games and a silver in London, both in the 1,500-meter freestyle. He worked with 2013 world championship medallist Hilary Caldwell and 2012 Olympian Alec Page.

Swimming Canada CEO Ahmed El-Awadi said: “He loved our sport, he cherished his athletes and he proudly represented his family and Canada.”

Bennett is survived by wife Lesley and teenage sons Brett and Kyle.