Courtesy: U SPORTS
U SPORTS announced on Wednesday that McGill University will host its 2024 swimming championships at the Pointe-Claire Aquatic Centre, March 7-9.
This marks the first time since 1979 that McGill has hosted the Nationals.
“U SPORTS is thrilled to bring the national university championships back to Montreal for the first time in almost half a century, said Lisette Johnson-Stapley, U SPORTS chief sport officer. McGill’s swim program has seen tremendous growth and success over the years, and we look forward to working alongside our friends at McGill to host another amazing U SPORTS championship for athletes, fans and the swimming community at large.”
McGill, which won the national men’s title in 1972, has a strong hosting legacy having most recently co-hosted the 50th Vanier Cup in 2014 (with the Montreal Carabins) and the 2011 CIS women’s soccer championship, both held at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium in Montreal.
The Pointe-Claire Aquatic Centre, opened in 1967, is a high-calibre aquatic centre located about 15 minutes from downtown Montreal. The venue was home to the 2022 Swimming Canada Eastern Championships, the 2015 Canadian Swimming Championships and the 1979 CIAU championships.
“We’re quite thrilled to host this event,” said Geoffrey Phillips, executive director of athletics and recreation at McGill. “This will be a boost for the Quebec swimming community and energize our varsity program, which has produced more than a dozen Olympic swimmers over its long history, beginning with the legendary George Hodgson, who captured two gold medals at the 1912 Summer Games in Stockholm. Over the past few seasons, McGill has emerged as one of the top five swim programs in the country and won both the men’s and women’s RSEQ conference titles last year.”
At the 2023 Nationals, the McGill Martlets finished third after producing 20 swims in the “A” Finals collecting two bronze medals and seven fourth-place finishes. On the men’s side, the Redbirds finished fifth overall, with 17 swims in the “A” Finals, winning a pair of gold medals and three bronzes.
Homecoming for Coach Peter!