Hilary Caldwell was competitive and combative to the very end.
“People ask if I am satisfied . . . but I always wanted to be better and faster,” she said.
Caldwell, who came out of Saanich Commonwealth Place to win bronze medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2013 world championships in the women’s 200-metre backstroke, announced her retirement from swimming Wednesday.
“I’ve been humbled, however, by all the people who have contacted me since today’s announcement saying how much they admired my perseverance, toughness and grittiness,” said the 27-year-old Caldwell.
The sheer determination of Caldwell and two-time Olympic medallist Ryan Cochrane of Victoria led Canadian swimming for several years before the breakout performances by a host of new stars, especially on the women’s side, at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“Ryan and I won the only two Canadian pool medals at the 2013 world championships [in Barcelona],” added Caldwell.
“Now, Swimming Canada is in a much more exciting position.”
Caldwell and Cochrane helped get it there.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better group to train with in Saanich Commonwealth Place [after relocating from White Rock as a unheralded swimmer],” said Caldwell, also a gold medallist in the 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games and bronze medallist in the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
“It was kind of a golden age in our pool.”
There was never any doubt who the two leaders were.
“[Caldwell] had to overcome so much. Everybody didn’t believe in her when she was younger,” said Cochrane.
“It was always inspiring to see a woman who overcame a lot of obstacles to get to be one of the best in the world.”
But while Caldwell faded to fifth last month in the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, younger swimmers out of Saanich Commonwealth Place such as Sarah Darcel (silver medal), Faith Knelson (fourth place) and Jade Hannah (finalist) were making their presence felt.
“These girls are eight to 10 years younger. It was a fun way to end,” said Caldwell, about passing the torch.
She will be gone from the Saanich Commonwealth Place pool but not forgotten.
“Hilary set the bar for hard work,” said Ryan Mallette, head coach of the Swimming Canada High Performance Centre-Victoria, in a statement.
“Hilary set the bar for what you can do if you put your mind to something. She was the standard the young kids could follow in terms of all those things.”
Caldwell said she has not decided about her future path but will finish her final semester to earn her degree in French and history at the University of Victoria.
“I’m taking the summer off for the first time in 12 years and not rushing into anything,” she said.
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