University of Toronto athletes and alumni competed under different flags at the Commonwealth Games, but all of them championed Varsity Blues spirit on the world stage.
The current and former U of T students represented three countries at the Games in Scotland, with several turning in standout results in the pool and on the track .
Kylie Masse, a U of T alumna and five-time Olympic medallist , became the most decorated Canadian swimmer in Commonwealth Games history, adding gold in the 50-metre backstroke and silver in the 100-metre backstroke to her career total of 11 medals.
Masse said she hopes her record haul inspires more Canadians to get into sport. "I don't think I entirely understand [the role model that I am], but it's moments like this that put it at the forefront of my brain."
Four current Varsity Blues swimmers joined Masse in Glasgow. Ben Loewen, in his fourth year at Rotman Commerce, placed sixth in the 200-metre butterfly for Canada, while Ben Winterborn, a second-year political science student at U of T Scarborough, helped Canada to finish fourth in the men's 4x100-metre medley relay.
Elijah Daley, a first-year student in the Faculty of Arts & Science, made his Games debut in the 100-metre butterfly for Bermuda, and Connor Macdonald - a second-year student in the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education who carried the flag for the Cayman Islands at the opening ceremony - helped set a national record in the 4x100-metre freestyle relay.
On the track, alumnae sisters Lucia Stafford and Gabriela DeBues-Stafford both raced for Canada. Lucia placed fourth in the women's mile final, while Gabriela finished 14th in the women's 5,000 metres with a season-best time.
