Student-athletes at XX Commonwealth Games in Scotland

The opportunity to be part of a larger national team at a multi-sport international games is not something that happens very often. A number of athletes with UVic connections including 14 current, former or soon-to-be Vikes varsity athletes are in Glasgow, Scotland competing in the 2014 Commonwealth Games (held every four years).

The XX Games include 17 sports and 71 participating nations. The Vikes are well represented in field hockey, swimming, rugby sevens and rowing, which accounts for four of the eight varsity sports available at UVic.

For more on Vikes Athletics, and to keep up to date on all UVic-related stories at the Games, visit govikesgo.com.

Swimmer Ryan Cochrane

There was never any doubt that the Vikes would make a splash at the games but it couldn’t have been any more fitting than to have Canada’s first gold come from former Vikes swimmer and UVic psychology alumnus Ryan Cochrane. The two-time Olympic medalist touched in at 3:43.46 to successfully defend his Commonwealth Games gold-medal title on July 24 in the 400-metre freestyle swim. Read more

And he's done it again: Cochrane was top seed (qualifying first) going into the men's 1,500-metre freestyle final July 29 in Glasgow and he won by nearly five seconds. This is his second gold of the XX Games. He won gold in both these events at the last Games in Delhi 2010.  Glasgow 2014 webpage

Swimmer Hilary Caldwell

Also medalling in the pool is fellow Olympian and former Vikes swimmer Hilary Caldwell who claimed bronze in 2:08.55 in the 200-metre backstroke. It's the second major international medal in her collection, joining her bronze in the same event at last year's FINA World Championships in Barcelona, where she swam a Canadian record of 2:06.80. Read more

Cyclist Catharine Pendrel

Catharine Pendrel claimed the women’s mountain bike gold medal July 29 after blasting through the 32K course in 1:39:20, according to the Times Colonist shortly after she won. Pendrel is well-known in Victoria and across Canada for being a world champion, and she trained here at UVic.  Read the TC article

Rugby Sevens

Canada’s rugby sevens lifted the Bowl at Ibrox Stadium on July 28 after a 50-7 victory over Cook Islands. In the mix are former Vikes John Moonlight, the Canadian captain, as well as pivotal players Sean Duke and Nathan Hirayama. Lucas Hammond and Justin Douglas are expected to suit up with the Vikes this fall. The victory put them in the ninth spot overall. Read more

Field Hockey

Also competing are women’s field hockey players Danielle Hennig, Kaitlyn Williams and Thea Culley, as well as men’s field hockey player Keegan Pereira – all former Vikes student-athletes.  Both hockey teams wrap up Aug. 1-3 depending on pool-play results.

Rowing

In addition: current rower Lee Tate Hall is the lone Vike to represent Canada at the Commonwealth Rowing Championship hosted at Strathclyde Park, Motherwell after the XX Commonwealth Games. Hall will race the 1500-m course Aug. 9-10.