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.

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Katia Perin

Manager, Communications and Marketing

Gymnastics Canada

(514) 358-4194 comms@gymcan.org

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John Edwards

Manager, Sports Information

U SPORTS (819) 578-7380 jedwards@usports.ca

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State Department of Athletics is proud to launch a groundbreaking internal resource designed to elevate performance and support championship-level success across its 36 varsity sports in the rapidly evolving landscape of intercollegiate athletics.
 

The new Center for Sports Intelligence & Strategy will bring together a cross-functional team of athletics department administrators dedicated to driving strategic planning, optimizing data-driven decision-making, and fostering collaboration across teams. This innovative unit will provide Ohio State coaches with access to cutting-edge analytics, strategic insights and tools designed to inform and enhance key areas such as recruiting, scheduling, resource allocation and roster construction.
 

“The Center for Sports Intelligence & Strategy will equip our coaches with more information, context and clarity to make even better decisions,” said Shaun Richard, Deputy Athletics Director. “We already have the best sports science team that equips our coaches with data on training, recovery, and performance. This unit will work in tandem with our sports scientists, as well as our business and NIL strategy teams, to give coaches additional data and actionable insights.” 
 
Projects, for example, could include: understanding what types of student-athletes tend to be successful in certain sports; identifying traits and trends from high school that best indicate college success; and determining the ideal make-up of a team’s roster given the addition of the new Big Ten members.  
 
“The intelligence and strategy we’re providing will enhance our coaches’ ability to make critical decisions by giving them the most relevant and timely information available – so they can maintain a competitive edge in every aspect of their programs,” said Richard. 
 
Ohio State coaches, who are both competitive and curious, are supportive.
 

“As coaches at Ohio State, we know the difference between winning and losing often comes down to the smallest details,” national champion wrestling coach Tom Ryan said. “The Center for Sports Intelligence & Strategy will uncover subtle patterns and insights that will give our teams a competitive edge. As the world of college athletics evolves, we know the additional intelligence and strategy will help us stay at the forefront in this highly competitive environment.” 
 

With a focus on competitive excellence, the Center for Sports Intelligence & Strategy will integrate data and strategic expertise to support long-term planning and real-time decision-making. Areas of impact include recruiting and roster management, scheduling strategy, scholarship and budget modeling, and other operational aspects.
 

“The Center for Sports Intelligence & Strategy reinforces Ohio State’s commitment to innovation, excellence, and leadership in the future of college athletics,” said Ross Bjork, Senior Vice President and Wolfe Foundation-Eugene Smith Endowed Athletics Director. “As the competitive landscape continues to evolve, the intelligence and strategy provided will serve as an additional resource to ensure sustained success across all 36 sports.” 
 
Center for Sports Intelligence & Strategy
Shaun Richard, Deputy Athletics Director, will lead the unit which will include Matt Bartlebaugh, Senior Associate Athletics Director, Sport Administration and Strategy, and Makena Alexakos, Associate Athletics Director, Student-Athlete Development and Sport Administration. 
 
#GoBucks
 
The People. The Tradition. The Excellence.
 

WEATHER HEADLINES

• A few showers by morning
• Scattered showers and thunderstorms Thursday and Friday
• Warm and humid Father’s Day weekend with low chances

KANSAS CITY’S FORECAST

Tonight: Mostly cloudy with a a few showers by morning.
Low: 68º
Wind: Light

Thursday: Mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms.
High: 77º
Wind: S-SE 5-15 mph

Friday: 30% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms.
Low: 68º High: 83º
Wind: S-SE 5-15 mph

Saturday: Partly to mostly sunny, warm and humid.
Low: 66º High: 87º

Wind: Light

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WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Following a 15-minute executive session on Wednesday, the Luzerne County Convention Center Authority board said negotiations are continuing on the sale of a 7-parcel that would bring another hotel to the area.

Authority Board Chair Patrick Patte Jr. said the authority’s solicitor Christopher Slusser said an appraisal of the property should be completed within one week, then negotiations would resume with Sonny Singh of ONVB, regarding his request to purchase the land from the arena authority to build a second hotel.

Singh built a Residence Inn extended-stay hotel four years ago, and this parcel adjoins that site. The authority has stated it hopes to get at least $1 million for the property.

In other business on Wednesday, the board:

• Approved a $1.3 million contract with CMTA, Inc., for a cooling tower for its HVAC system. Steve Poremba, ASM Global’s general manager, said the arena will not have air conditioning during the length of the project, which will begin July 21 and run through August Poremba said the arena will not host any events during that time. The board decided to consolidate its July and August meetings to one on July 30.

Poremba said the next live show at the arena will be Cole Swindell on Saturday, Sept. 13.

• Approved a citation in memory of the late Tom Woods, who passed away in May. Woods served on the board since May 2014, and he was lauded for his dedicated service and significant contributions to the arena authority. The board will attend a service for Woods on Saturday, June 21.

• Discussed the process for filling Woods’ seat on the board, Luzerne County Council will fill the seat at a future meeting. Up to seven citizens will be considered for appointment.

Three citizens already were on the eligibility list because they were publicly interviewed by council’s Authorities, Boards and Commissions Committee in the past — William Barrett, Scott Letcher and Michelle Reilly.

Four more citizens have completed interviews and are in the screening phase to ensure they meet eligibility requirements, according to the county. They are Charles Jones, Vincent Argenio, Joseph Jones and Carl Kuren.

• Approved $281,000 for an air handler unit.

Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle. Jennifer Learn-Andes contributed to this report.