OTTAWA – Gabriella Brisson, a native of Calgary who was recently admitted to McGill University as a kinesiology freshman, is among 10 student-athletes named by the CIS to represent Canada in synchronized swimming at the 2013 FISU Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia.
 
It will mark the first-ever appearance for the sport at the world university games. The synchro competition is set for July 5 to 9.
 
Thus far, five McGill students have been named to compete at the Games, including rugby players Brianna Miller of Pointe Claire, Que., and Caroline Suchorski of Kirkland, Que., along with swimmers Steven Bielby, also from Pointe Claire, and Katie Caldwell of White Rock, B.C.
 
Joining Brisson on the Canadian synchro roster is Janelle Ball of Dollard des Ormeaux, Que., Geneviève Bélanger of Laval, Que., Rachel Fréchette of Deux-Montagnes, Que., Caroline Larcher-Landry of Gatineau, Que., Rebecca Maule of Guelph, Ont., Katie MacLeod of Pointe Claire, Que., Samantha Nealon of Morriston, Ont., Camille Rémillard of Terrebonne, Que., as well as Lisa Sanders of Gormley, Ont.
 
Nealon, a Concordia University student, is the only team member who will compete in solo events.
 
"For many of those athletes, the Summer Universiade will be their first major multisport international event," said Meng Chen, Synchro Canada's senior national team head coach.
 
"Our athletes need to be in a competition simulation as often as possible to be able to progress in their personal sport development. There is no doubt in my mind that this experience with be beneficial for our athletes, those with less international experience and those with more who will be able to accompany their teammates, and for the long term development of our senior national team program."
 
Summer Universiade website: www.kazan2013.com/en
Team Canada website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/universiade/summer/2013 
 
 
TEAM CANADA ROSTER
 
Name                           University/College      Hometown                  Events            
Janelle Ball                  John Abbott                 Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que.   TT / FT           
Gabriella Brisson         McGill                         Calgary, Alta.               TT / FT
Rachel Fréchette          Concordia                    Deux-Montagnes, Que.      TT / FT
Caroline Larcher-Landry  Ahuntsic                      Gatineau, Que.             TT (alternate) / FT
Rebecca Maule            Concordia                    Guelph, Ont.                TT / FT
Katie MacLeod            John Abbott                 Pointe-Claire, Que.      TT / FT
Samantha Nealon         Concordia                    Morriston, Ont.            TT / FT / TS / FS
Lisa Sanders                Concordia                    Gormley, Ont.              TT / FT
 
LEGEND:
TT: technical team - FT: free team - TS: technical solo - FS: free solo
 

About the Summer Universiade

The Summer Universiade is an international multi-sport event that takes place every two years and is second only to the Olympic Games in the number of participating athletes and countries. The Universiade is open to competitors who are at least 17 and less than 28 years of age as of January 1 in the year of the Games. Participants must be full-time students at a post-secondary institution (university, college, CEGEP) or have graduated from a post-secondary institution in the year preceding the event.
 


 
For more information:
 
Michel Bélanger, CIS       
Off: (613) 562-5670 ext. 25
Cell: (613) 447-6334
belanger@universitysport.ca
 
Patrick Godbout
Synchro Canada
Cell: (514) 213-9897
patrick@synchro.ca
www.synchro.ca
www.facebook.com/synchrocanada1
www.twitter.com/synchrocanada