Ryan Cochrane’s luck may be turning after averting pickpocket

Olympic swimmer Ryan Cochrane's luck might be improving, after he averted a pickpocketing in London on Tuesday night.

Cochrane had his iPod stolen on his way home, according to Swimming Canada, but as Cochrane tells it, a combination of inept thievery and helpful witnesses led to a happy ending.

The aborted theft was a topic of levity around the Swimming Canada camp Wednesday. Swimming Canada director of communications Martin Richard joked:

The iPod rescue is welcome good news to Cochrane, who hasn't had a good start to these Olympics. On Saturday, he thought he had qualified for the 400m freestyle final - until the disqualification of South Korean Park Tae-hwan was reversed, bumping Cochrane to 9th overall and out of the final.

Here's hoping the recovery of Cochrane's iPod bodes well for the rest of the week. He swims next on Saturday in the 1500m freestyle event, where he's considered a solid medal contender.