College Sports
Canada’s gymnastics team unveiled for 2025 FISU Summer World University Games
June 12, 2025 RICHMOND HILL, Ont. – U SPORTS, the Canadian representative of FISU, the International University Sports Federation, and Gymnastics Canada have announced the roster for Team Canada gymnastics athletes at the 2025 FISU Summer World University Games in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany. The team is led by 2024 Paris Olympians Félix Dolci […]

June 12, 2025
RICHMOND HILL, Ont. – U SPORTS, the Canadian representative of FISU, the International University Sports Federation, and Gymnastics Canada have announced the roster for Team Canada gymnastics athletes at the 2025 FISU Summer World University Games in the Rhine-Ruhr region of Germany.
The team is led by 2024 Paris Olympians Félix Dolci of Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs, Que., and William Émard of Laval, Que. Dolci won the men’s all-around gold at the 2023 Pan Am Games, the first Canadian to do so since 1963. On the women’s side, Evanda Zlobec of Baie-d’Urfé, Que., won the all-around competition at this year’s Luxembourg Open, while Maddison Hajjar of Dollard-des-Ormeau, Que., won two event medals at the same meet. Rhythmic gymnastics is led by Suzanna Shahbazian of Montreal, who won a team gold and an individual silver at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England.
The women’s artistic gymnastics team comprises four member
Athlete name Hometown University/College
- Maddison Hajjar Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Que. John Abbott College
- Kahlyn Lawson Beaconsfield, Que. John Abbott College
- Virginie Therrien Montreal, Que. CÉGEP André-Laurendeau
- Evandra Zlobec Baie-d’Urfé, Que. Collégial International Sainte-Anne
The men’s artistic gymnastics team includes the following five members:
Athlete name Hometown University/College
- Matteo Bardana Oakville, Ont. California
- Yanni Chronopoulos Milton, Ont. Nebraska
- Félix Dolci Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs, Que. LaSalle College (Mtl.)
- William Emard Laval, Que. UQAM
- Jayson Rampersad Montreal, Que. Concordia
The two athletes competing in women’s rhythmic gymnastics are as follows:
Athlete name S Sp. Hometown University/College
- Erica Lee F Rhythmic Vancouver, B.C. UC San Diego
- Suzanna Shahbazian F Rhythmic Montreal, Que. CÉGEP de Saint-Laurent
Team Canada is making its return to the FISU Summer World University Games, after missing the 2023 event. The 2025 edition will be staged in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region of Germany, with rhythmic gymnastics set for July 17-19 and artistic gymnastics from July 22-26, both in Essen.
Team Canada has won 15 medals in artistic gymnastics, with the first coming at Universiade ’83 in Edmonton, where Anita Botnen, Anne-Marie De Serres, Elfi Schlegel, and Sara Aggiss combined to win gold at the team event. Canada’s last medals in the discipline came at Taipei in 2017, when four-time Olympian Ellie Black and 2012 Olympian Brittany Rogers combined to win four individual medals, including gold for Black in the beam and for Rogers in the vault, and won silver in the team event with Briannah Tsang and Jessica Dowling.
Canada’s only medal in rhythmic gymnastics was a bronze by Susie Cushman at the 1991 Summer Universiade in Sheffield, England.
The artistic gymnastics squad will be led by coaches Julie Charron of St-Basile-le-Grand, Que., Monica Nolet of Blainville, Que. and Johanne Soucy of St-Joseph-du-Lac, Que., with Alexandra Zaluski of Saskatoon attached as medical personnel.
The rhythmic gymnastics coach is Natalia Popova of Montreal.
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.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Katia Perin
Manager, Communications and Marketing
Gymnastics Canada
(514) 358-4194 comms@gymcan.org
John Edwards
Manager, Sports Information
U SPORTS (819) 578-7380 jedwards@usports.ca