CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW: U SPORTS SWIMMING

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues will not have far to go as they journey to the Markham Pan Am Centre for the 2026 U SPORTS Swimming Championships, hosted by McMaster University from Mar. 12-14.

After profitable a twenty second straight provincial title, the No. 2 nationally ranked Varsity Blues males are set to as soon as once more problem for a nationwide banner. Last season, the U of T males earned crew silver, ending the three-day nationwide showcase with 17 whole medals.

Meanwhile, the Varsity Blues girls claimed their twelfth straight OUA banner just some weeks in the past and can enter the nationwide showcase because the No. 2 ranked crew within the nation. The girls shall be trying to enhance on a fourth-place end on the nationwide championship a season in the past, aiming for a return to the general podium after an inflow of spectacular first-year expertise.

The 2026 U SPORTS Championships start on Thursday (Mar. 12) morning at 9:30 a.m., adopted by finals at 5:30 p.m. Tickets can be found at mcmaster.universitytickets.com. Races shall be stay streamed on CBC Sports digital platforms.

MEN’S PREVIEW: Leading a powerful veteran group of U of T males shall be fourth-year finance and economics pupil Ben Loewen. Delivering on one other standout yr, Loewen has not too long ago represented Team Canada on the FISU Summer World University Games and was chosen for the 2026 Commonwealth Games. At the OUA Championships he earned a profession grand slam, profitable his fourth 200m backstroke provincial gold, and claimed the Dr. Jeno Tehani IM Award for his gold medal 200m IM swim. Familiar to the nationwide stage, he has already earned seven particular person U SPORTS medals together with nationwide gold within the 200m IM, and he seems in type so as to add much more.

The backstroke expertise continues with fourth-year veteran Andrew Herman and second-year Varsity Blue Ben Winterborn. The pair have solely gotten higher by the problem of competing in opposition to one another, constantly breaking OUA information within the 50m and 100m backstrokes. In addition to their very own accomplishments, the pair additionally function key contributors in relays.

There shall be loads of names to look at on the board together with fellow veterans Carter Buck, Liam Weaver, Bill Dongfang, Michael Sava, and Quinn Matteis. As effectively, first-year standout Elijah Daley and final season’s U SPORTS rookie of the yr Nathan Thomas will each be checked out for extra factors within the crew totals.

WOMEN’S PREVIEW: Now a two-time OUA Swimmer of the Year, Nina Mollin continues to be a flexible swimmer within the pool for U of T. At the OUA Championships she grew to become a two-time grand slam champion, profitable for a fourth time in her profession each the 200m butterfly and 200m IM. She additionally added gold within the 100m butterfly. On the nationwide stage, the three-time U SPORTS All-Canadian will enter as defending champion in all three occasions. In whole she holds eight nationwide gold medals, with the potential so as to add much more this week.

A significant influence for the Blues success this season has been an inflow of expertise together with 2026 OUA Rookie of the Year Chloe Danks. The life science pupil earned provincial gold within the 200m breaststroke and silver within the 100m breaststroke at her first provincial championships. She was additionally joined by fellow rookie Maria Cosic, Varsity Blues veteran Teagan Vander Leek, and Mollin in an OUA record-setting 4×100 medley relay.

Additional first-year OUA medalists for U of T included Abbi Bahler, Milena Cosic, Natalie Hocevar, Julie Nolan-McCarthy; all 4 of which can make their U SPORTS Championships debut.