The nick-name Fat Rat originates from Ben's first National Junior Training Camp at the end of 1994. Located in Canberra, facilities at the Australian Institute of Sport were utilised, and among the tests used were skinfolds. During skinfolds taken on Ben, background noise was high and the recored of the measurements had difficulty hearing. It is claimed (by Ben) that during a measurement of 6.2mm, it was mistakenly heard, and recorded as 16.2mm, adding 10mm to the sum of 7 (the sum of seven of the skinfolds recorded). Not being the skiniest in the first place, the extra 10mm put him over the top, and left him as the male on the camp with the largest recorded skinfolds, hence the "Fat". The "Rat" of course is a play on his surname.
The name "Fat Rat" was coined, and since it has stuck. |
