Australian-raised
Danica Ludlow took up swimming at a young age and dreams of one day competing in the Olympics – and her stock in Canadian swimming circles continues to rise.
A veteran of two Olympic trials, the Victoria, B.C. native will make another attempt for the Olympic team in two years for Tokyo 2020.
"Of course the goal is to make the Olympic team and it kind of helps when have a whole bunch of people up here make the Olympic team so we see it everyday, and that's what I am working towards,'' said Ludlow.
"I have done two Olympic trials and neither of the have gone the way I wanted to so far, but I am trying really well so and I think in another two years I will hopefully be in prime position and to just keep working hard," said Ludlow.
Her hard work is paying off. At the recent U SPORTS swimming championships in Toronto, Ludlow swept the distance freestyle events. On the first day of the competition, Ludlow competed in the 200-metre freestyle and captured gold with a time of 1:55:43.
On the second day of the championship she competed in the 400-metre freestyle event, capturing another gold with a personal-best time of 4:05.98.
On the final day of the event she competed the sweep in the 800-metre freestyle, touching first with a time of 8:27.98.
"I grew up in Australia so I started swimming when I was really young. It's just kind of what everyone does and so I have been swimming ever since," said Ludlow.
"It's definitely whole different scenario over here – hockey is big here and everyone plays hockey, and over there everybody swims and so it is super competitive and I think that's why I am still in it now. I have been competitive in it since I was two or three years old, '' said Ludlow.
One of her influences in swimming and the person she leans for advice is two-time Olympic medallist Ryan Cochrane. She met Cochrane when she trained at the Swimming Canada High Performance Centre in Victoria.
"I have gotten really close with the bigger swimmers over here when I trained at the centre," she explained. "I am really close with Ryan Cochrane who is a two time Olympic medalist so he and I go back a couple years now. We talk everyday so we are really close. As I have gotten older I have gotten to know all of the Olympic team now so that is kind of who pushes me now, mostly the Canadians." she said.
Despite swimming since a young age, Ludlow was actually more into gymnastics early on. She dealt with a lot of injuries when she was young, and swimming was part or her rehabbing from an injury.
"I went through a lot injuries when I was young and I was much more into gymnastics so I was dealing with a lot of injuries with that," she explained. "Then I got more serious into swimming because it was my rehab for my injuries and that kind of pushed me more into the sport.
"I am pretty lucky I don't have any injuries in swimming right now and have had a good last couple of seasons, so upwards from here," said Ludlow.
Ludlow is one of five female Dinos athletes who have received awards of merit and are up for the Dr. Dennis Kadatz Athlete of the Year. The hardware will be handed out at the 51st Annual Night of the Dino awards gala Tuesday, April 3, at the Red and White Club at McMahon Stadium.
