“A reporter asked me what does being in the Olympic final meant to me. Having persevered through all the pain and adversities, I broke down and said it means everything.”
– Brent Hayden, Canadian Olympic Medalist and World Champion, founder of Astra Athletica
The road to an Olympic medal is one that demands tremendous sacrifices and constantly striving for excellence. It was no different for Brent Hayden, only much harder. He came back from nearly quitting the sport to winning an Olympic medal well past his prime. Brent had an emotional and physical roller-coaster ride that eventually culminated into Olympic glory.
Overcoming the Odds
In 2004, Brent competed in Athens at his first Olympics. Unfortunately, he came home disappointed and demotivated by the experience. “A week after the competition ended, I was mistaken for a protestor and beaten up before the Riot Police arrested me. All because I was tall and wearing a dark shirt,” he painfully remembers. The physical injuries were bad, but the mental agony left him emotionally scarred. He withdrew from a number of competitions and even considered stopping competitive swimming entirely.
Thankfully, his family’s support and encouragement spurred Brent on. He eventually started competing again and won the men’s World Championship in the 100-meter freestyle.
In 2008, he competed in his second Olympics. “Although I qualified as the third fastest out of 16 swimmers, I did not compete in the semi-finals of the 200m freestyle. Instead, my coach and I decided to rest for the 4×100 meter freestyle that was held on the same day,” he reveals. The Canadian team finished sixth in the event. He also didn’t make the cut in the 100-meter freestyle. Overall, the Beijing Olympic brought him huge disappointment.
Brent knew he was getting older to compete at the top-level, but he never gave up. He continued to work hard, striving against all odds every day.
Clawing His Way Back Up
In 2010 at the Delhi Commonwealth Games, Brent won two golds and set two new Games records. Brent also climbed to world number one in the 50-meter freestyle. Success at the World Aquatics Championship boosted his confidence further.
By 2012, Brent was already 28, quite old by Olympic swimming standards. His competitors were much younger, but Brent had focus. There was, however, another unfortunate twist in the tale. A few weeks before the competition, Brent suffered a severe back spasm, forcing him to stay away from the water for four days. Brent knew this was his last shot at Olympic glory. In the pool, Brent fought hard, enduring the unbearable back pain for every stroke. He ended with a podium finish, winning a bronze. Against all odds, exhibiting perseverance and never-say-die spirit, Brent had finally achieved what he cherished for so long.
Now retired, Brent uses his experience as an Olympian to start an athletic apparel company, Astra Athletica.
