Canada in Tokyo – Cole Pratt – Swimming

Regina-born swimmer Cole Pratt doesn’t get to visit home too often these days, but considering his travel agenda has Tokyo as its next stop, he can be forgiven for that.

The 18-year-old will be representing Team Canada in the 100-metre backstroke and relay event at Tokyo 2020, and he was more than ready to make the step up from juniors, where he was competing as recently as 2019.

“This is something my coach and I have been training for the last two and a half years,” Pratt said during Swimming Canada’s pre-Games media days. “There was never a doubt I would be in contention.”

Pratt says there is not really that much difference between the junior and senior levels in Canada, with an incredible crop of young swimmers coming through.

“I wasn’t really training for the trials, I was training for the Olympics,” Pratt said. “It feels as great as I thought it would. Seeing all my friends make the team made me feel incredible.”

Pratt also felt incredible last year, when he broke an 11-year-old national record in the 100m backstroke, a record set during a relay and with the use of the now-outlawed ‘supersuit’.

“It gave me a lot of confidence,” Pratt said of setting the record. “Going into racing after six months out of the water, everyone was nervous. Having that (record) showed how well I handled myself during the pandemic.”

Not that COVID-19 didn’t present its challenges to Pratt. The swimmer who now resides in Calgary actually felt it was something of a blessing in disguise.

“Going into it I wasn’t really all there and was going through some stuff,” Pratt said. “Having that lockdown actually helped me take a mental break from it.

“I’d been going hard without any breaks since 2017. A little step back from everything, I think it really helped.”

While restrictions in Japan prohibit family and friends from attending, Pratt has that covered too. His sister Halle is part of the artistic swimming team and the pair are grateful for each other’s support.

“I admire my sister so much. She has been through everything and having her there is great. She is one of the strongest people I know,” Pratt said.

Pratt will rely on more than just his sister in Tokyo for guidance. He hopes to continue to turn to veteran and 2012 Olympic bronze medal-winner Brent Hayden.

“I had an opportunity to train and compete with Brent at the International Swimming League,” Pratt said. “He has so much wisdom that me and the younger swimmers can glean from. I had a sitdown talk with him about everything he has been through and learned from, to chip away at all his knowledge.”

On the little downtime Pratt gets, he can often be found watching Family Guy to unwind. While he may not quite have his sights set on global domination like his favourite character Stewie Griffin, Pratt has his eyes firmly set on making the final in Tokyo.

He even got to visit Regina at the start of the year thanks to a pool closure in Calgary.

“I did come home to the old stomping ground and visited my old house and saw some old faces. It was a good time,” Pratt said.

Pratt makes his Olympic debut on July 25 when the 100-metre backstroke heats get underway at the Olympic Aquatics Centre.

Listen to the full interview – https://iono.fm/e/1076991