University of Toronto athletes program medical robots and intern at Canada’s Department of National Defense. Some are working toward a third degree and know more about fish taxonomy than most people ever will. They publish more papers in their first degree than the average graduate student will in three and they may establish and preside over the only fraternity that does more volunteering than partying. One of them swims the fastest 100 metre backstroke in world history.
So Osvald Nitski described the athletes on his Varsity Blues swimming team while addressing the audience at the Varsity Blues Achievement Awards ceremony, hosted by the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education on March 20th. The evening brings together Varsity Blues athletes and donors to the Varsity Blues program in a celebration of the student-athletes’ academic and athletic success. At the eighth annual Academic Excellence Breakfast this fall, U of T honoured 225 student-athletes, who earned an 80% average or higher in all courses while competing on a Varsity team.
Nitski, who is in his second year of mechanical engineering, was named one of Top 8 Academic All-Canadians for the 2016-17 season, in a special ceremony hosted by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada. He earned the honour for his athletic success, which includes four climbs to the podium at the 2017 OUA Swimming Championships, where he won two individual gold medals, a silver and a bronze. But, it is also a reflection of his academic success. Nitski has been on the Dean's Honour list in each academic term at U of T’s prestigious mechanical engineering program and earned numerous scholarships and awards. And, he finds time to volunteer with the Varsity Blues Buddy Up program to develop leadership and character skills in elementary aged students.
On March 20th, he wanted donors who invest in young athletes at U of T to hear how they contribute not only to athletic excellence, but produce and shape young women and men who will go on to do great things.
“A guy like myself who was raised in the more unfortunate part of Hamilton usually shouldn’t have any business winning national titles, developing ultrasound devices and meeting the Governor General of Canada, yet this is where your support of my athletics has taken me so far. And I promise there is much more to come,” he said.
Osvald Nitski posing with women's hockey coach Vicky Sunohara (l) and President of the T-Holders Association Jen Button (r) (photo by Jing-Ling Kao-Beserve)
Vicky Sunohara, head coach of the Varsity Blues women's hockey team, spoke about the profound impact that being a Varsity Blue had on her personal and professional development. A graduate of the Faculty’s Physical Education and Health program, Sunohara played hockey for the Varsity Blues, helping them win the Ontario University Championships in 1990-91 and 1991-92. She went on to win an Olympic silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, and a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, U.S.A., and the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.
“The work ethic, team work, discipline and trust that you learn through team sports are critical skills that serve us well through life,” said Sunohara, who won a total of 15 gold and three silver medals while representing Canada in numerous international ice hockey competitions. “I know my experience on the hockey team shaped my life and as a coach I want to make sure that the next generation of Blues have the opportunity to benefit the way I did.”
Beth Ali, executive director of athletics & co-curricular physical activity at the U of T, thanked all donors for their ongoing and growing support. She said she was proud to work at Canada’s leading university, which provides a framework within which student athletes can achieve both academic and athletic excellence.
“This evening we celebrate our student athletes’ hard work and talent. But, we also want to acknowledge those quiet teammates that helped their success, not by competing alongside them, but by lending their support from afar with scholarships,” she said. “They may not dress in the Blue and White every week, but they are a crucial part of the success of our programs.”