Five Cochrane Water Ninjas to represent Canada at RLSS Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships
Five swimmers from the Cochrane Water Ninjas have been selected to represent Canada at the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships.
18-year-old Jack Dunse was one of the swimmers selected.
'I'm super pumped to be here. It's been a long training session to get to this point, but I'm super excited,' said Dunse.
The competition takes place in Swansea, Wales, July 8-13, and welcomes the top athletes in the sport from Commonwealth nations.
This will be 17-year-old Isaac Thibodeau's third tour with the national team.
'It's just so much fun to get to bond with all these athletes who love the sport as much as we do and just get to compete at super fast races at high levels,' said Thibodeau.
The RLSS Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships take place every two years.
The competition aims 'to encourage participation in lifesaving sport and further development of lifesaving practices, as well as bring the lifesaving family together,' according to the RLSS website.
Events include manikin tow, manikin carry with fins, rescue medley, line throw, line throw relay and manikin relay.
Danica Fisher, 17, is the lone female from the Water Ninjas to crack the squad.
'I'm really excited, especially with four other teammates,' said Fisher.
'It's definitely a big deal and it's great for Cochrane.'
In addition to Fisher, Dunse and Thibodeau, the Water Ninjas' Oliver Johnson and Caebri Smith will also represent Canada.
In total, only 20 swimmers were selected to wear the Maple Leaf.
'It definitely shows how strong the Cochrane team is,' said Fisher.
'I feel our team is very connected—everyone gets along.'
For Dunse and Thibodeau, it's an example of iron sharpening iron.
'It's absolutely incredible. I think it shows the skill and work effort that we as Water Ninjas put in,' said Dunse.
'It's a testament to our club's dedication, our coaching staff and everything we've had over the years,' said Thibodeau.
'Being able to train together in this club is really incredible. To be able to race against each other and train every single day, it pushes us to be the best version of us.'
In addition to the five athletes selected, two more from the Water Ninjas were chosen as reserves.
To help cover costs for the trip, a GoFundMe page has been launched.
The athletes depart for Wales on July 6.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
American flag will fly at Ottawa City Hall on July 4 to mark Independence Day
FILE - An American flag waves in the breeze during an NCAA softball game between North Florida and Western Michigan in Jacksonville, Fla., Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough) The American flag will fly at Ottawa City Hall on Friday in recognition of U.S. Independence Day. The City of Ottawa confirmed to CTV News Ottawa the Stars and Stripes will be raised under the flag protocol. 'The City of Ottawa will fly the American flag on Marion Dewar Plaza at City Hall on July 4,' Daniel Francoeur, protocol advisor with the City of Ottawa, said in an email. 'This is consistent with the City's flag protocol procedures and reflects Canada's formal diplomatic relations with the United States.' According to the City of Ottawa's website, all Embassies are invited to provide the City of Ottawa's Office of Protocol with their national flag to be flown outside City Hall on their respective national day. Flags will be flown from sunrise to sunset. More than 190 flags will fly at Ottawa City Hall this year to mark Independence Day or a national day. Rwanda's flag will also fly at Ottawa City Hall on July 4 to mark Liberation Day. Trade tensions between Canada and the United States have chilled relations between the two countries this year. In February, fans were heard booing the Star-Spangled Banner at Canadian Tire Centre ahead of a Senators game.
CTV News
2 hours ago
- CTV News
Nikolaj Ehlers signs six-year deal with Carolina Hurricanes
Nikolaj Ehlers will be sporting a new jersey for the 2025-26 NHL season. The Carolina Hurricanes posted on X Thursday afternoon that the team has come to terms with the former Winnipeg Jets forward, signing him to a six-year deal worth $8.5 million a season. Ehlers spent 10 seasons in Winnipeg, playing in 674 games, tallying 225 goals and 520 points. He was also part of 45 playoff games, adding nine goals and 21 points. His best season as a Jet was during the 2016-17 season when he had 25 goals and 64 points in 82 games. He was one point off that total this past season, reaching that mark in 13 fewer games. Ehlers was drafted in the 2014 NHL Draft ninth overall by Winnipeg and finishes his Jets tenure tied for third in points and fourth in goals and assists in franchise history.
CBC
2 hours ago
- CBC
'Top free agent' Ehlers leaves Jets for 6-year, $51M US deal with Hurricanes
Nikolaj Ehlers is waving goodbye to the Winnipeg Jets. The winger signed a six-year, $51-million US contract with the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday, the third day of NHL free agency. "Nikolaj was the top free agent available on July 1, and we are proud that he's chosen to make Carolina his home," Hurricanes general manager Eric Tulsky said in a statement. "He's a highly-skilled winger who can really skate and will fit very well with our forward group." The 29-year-old selected ninth overall at the 2014 draft spent a decade in the Manitoba capital, where he put up 225 goals and 295 assists for 520 points in 674 regular-season games. Ehlers added 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 45 playoff contests. He scored at least 20 goals in eight of his 10 NHL seasons, including a career-high 29 in 2017-18. The Jets are coming off a campaign that saw them capture the Presidents' Trophy as the NHL's top regular-season team. Winnipeg advanced to the second round of the playoffs with a dramatic seven-game victory over the St. Louis Blues before losing out to the Dallas Stars 4-2. Ehlers registered five goals and two assists in his eight post-season contests this spring.
