Celebrating the student-athlete:
University of Calgary Varsity Swim Club’s Nathan Versluys Named Top Academic All-Canadian
Swim Alberta is thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievement of Nathan Versluys, a dedicated University of Calgary Varsity Swim Team athlete, who has been named the Top Male Academic All-Canadian at the University of Calgary for his remarkable performance both in the classroom and in the pool.
This honour is part of a broader recognition by the University of Calgary, which celebrated 180 Academic All-Canadians this year—an impressive milestone that reflects the incredible commitment of student-athletes to their sport and education.
From Dinos Athletic News, “The Dinos Top Academic All-Canadian award honors one male and one female student-athlete with the best combination of academic and athletic excellence. The inaugural 2023-24 recipients are Elizabeth Lang from women’s hockey and Nathan Versluys from men’s swimming.”. [ see the following link for the full story https://godinos.com/news/2024/11/26/athletic-news-dinos-celebrate-180-academic-all-canadians.aspx ]
As Swim Alberta’s Executive Director, Shawn Holman, eloquently stated, “This award is a testament to the incredible athletes and coaches that make competitive swimming possible for the post-secondary student-athlete. The opportunity to excel in both sport and academics is what develops our future community leaders.”
Nathan’s success underscores the importance of varsity programs in Alberta and highlights the critical role they play in fostering a balanced approach to athletic and academic excellence. Varsity programs provide young athletes with the chance to compete at a high level while pursuing higher education, building skills that prepare them for leadership roles in our communities.
The University of Calgary continues to demonstrate leadership and vision by supporting opportunities for student-athletes like Nathan. Their commitment to competitive swimming ensures that athletes can thrive in their sport while gaining the education needed to succeed beyond the pool.
This achievement comes at a pivotal moment, as Alberta’s swimming community continues to grapple with the impact of the recent decision to cancel the University of Alberta’s varsity swim program.
The loss of such opportunities highlights the importance of safeguarding and investing in these programs across the province. As Holman emphasized, “The University of Calgary continues to show great vision and leadership in the area of their student-athlete opportunities to contribute to the Alberta Advantage. We encourage other Alberta universities to join in developing future leaders by supporting student-athlete programs.”
As a member of Swim Alberta, Nathan Versluys exemplifies the values of dedication, resilience, and excellence that define competitive swimming. We are incredibly proud of his achievements and the University of Calgary’s ongoing commitment to nurturing student-athletes.
Congratulations, to the University of Calgary’s Varsity Swim Team and Nathan, on this well-deserved recognition. You are an inspiration to the swimming community to achieve its potential and a testament to the power of combining athletic passion with academic determination.