They attended U of T together, trained together and last spring, lifelong friends Martyn Forde and Terrence Haynes realized a dream, qualifying for the Olympics together.
Forde and Haynes were born in Canada, but met in Barbados where they attended the same elementary school and swam competitively. In 1998, when they were in their early teens, they met Blues’ swim coach Byron MacDonald. He had brought the University of Toronto team to Barbados for training camp. “I guess it’s just fate that we ended up at U of T,” says Haynes (BASc 2007), who started university one year before Forde, 23.
In July, both men were training intensively and preparing mentally for the race of their lives. Haynes,who participated in the 2004 Summer Olympics, planned to draw on his experience in Athens for this year’s Games. “The night before my race [in Athens] I didn’t sleep at all,” he says. “I want to go into this Olympics more relaxed.”
Each was pleased to share his Olympic experience with a close friend. “I’ve been on countless meets with Martyn,” says Haynes, 23. “We both learn from each other and continue to push each other forward.”
The two swimmers joined Blues teammate Colin Russell, who swam for Canada.
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