U SPORTS, as the Canadian representative of the International University Sports Federation, and Swimming Canada have announced the roster for Team Canada swimming athletes at the 2025 FISU Summer World University Games in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany.
The team features three Olympians as Julie Brousseau, Patrick Hussey and Emma O’Croinin all competed at Paris last summer. Shona Branton, who was the athlete of the meet at the 2024 U SPORTS Championships and holds the U SPORTS record in the 50m breaststroke will also be looking to impress. Also of note is Ashley McMillan who was a finalist in the 200m individual medley at the 2024 World Aquatics Championships. Altogether, 10 of the 12 athletes have been on a junior or senior national team.
The women’s team comprises six athletes, as follows:
Name | Hometown | University | Individual Events |
Shona Branton | Port Lambton, Ont. | Western | BR: 100 |
Julie Brousseau | Ottawa, Ont. | Florida | FR: 200, 400, 800; IM: 400 |
Delia Lloyd | Toronto, Ont. | Ohio State | FR: 50, 100; BK: 100, 200 |
Ashley McMillan | Penticton, B.C. | Southern California | BA: 100; IM: 200 |
Emma O’Croinin | Edmonton, Alta. | UBC | FR: 200 |
Julia Strojnowska | Vancouver, B.C. | Auburn | FR: 400 |
Strokes: BK – backstroke, BF – butterfly, BR – breaststroke, FR – freestyle, IM – individual medley.
The six-person men’s squad includes the following:
Name | Hometown | University | Individual Events |
Collyn Gagne | Milton, Ont. | Simon Fraser | IM: 400 |
Patrick Hussey | Montreal, Que. | North Carolina | FR: 100, 200; BF: 100, 200 |
Ben Loewen | Toronto, Ont. | Toronto | BF: 200 |
Brayden Taivassalo | Newmarket, Ont. | Texas* | BR: 50 |
Liam Weaver | Calgary, Alta. | Toronto | FR: 50 |
Chris Weeks | St. John’s, N.L. | Memorial | FR: 50 |
Strokes: BK – backstroke, BF – butterfly, BR – breaststroke, FR – freestyle, IM – individual medley
* – Transferred to Arizona State after the 2025 season
Team Canada is making its return to the FISU Summer World University Games, after missing the 2023 event. While the 2025 games will be staged primarily in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region of Germany, swimming will take place in Berlin from July 17-23. Canada has won 106 medals (24 gold, 32 silver and 50 bronze) in swimming overall, the most for any sport.
Team leader Martin Gingras (Baie d’Urfé, Que.) will head the squad, joined by team manager Bette El-Hawary (Halifax, N.S.) and head coach Chrystèle Roy-L’Ecuyer (Montreal /Greenfield Park, Que.). Gingras is the national coach, programming and coach development, for Swimming Canada’s Olympic program. Roy-L’Ecuyer, the head coach of the Montréal Carabins, was on the national team coaching staff at last year’s 25-metre world championships.
All team lists are subject to change prior to the Games start date and all nominations are subject to approval by the U SPORTS international office.