For student-athletes at the University of British Columbia, this summer has been all about competitionin China.
At the 26th Summer Universiade, a biennial world university games, 20 current and former T-Birds joined 246 others from across the country to represent Canada. UBC competed against other student-athletes from 152 country delegations in a 12-day competition held in the city of Shenzhen from Aug. 12 to 23.
The point of these Games, say UBC coaches, is to provide an opportunity for young athletes to take their skills to the next level of competition.
"We support the [Universiade] because it's an international competition. It provides a whole other experience for student-athletes," said Theresa Hanson, intercollegiate and high performance sports director at UBC. Her husband Kevin coached the mens basketball team at the Games. "They're there competing against other students across the world."
The Universiade saw teams from Canada break into several top 10 rankings, including two silver medals for UBC swimmer Tera van Beilen and a silver for the mens basketball team with the help of UBC player Nathan Yu and coach Kevin Hanson.
The basketball team played in an arena built for 16,000 spectators. The Universiade itself brought in the largest number of participants in its history with over 10,000 athletes and officials in attendance.
For Hanson the basketball coach, many aspects of these Games bore a great resemblance to the Olympics. The experience also gave a taste at Olympic-style international competition for Vancouver's student-athletes.
"It was absolutely fabulous," Hanson said upon return from the Games. "Having the opportunity to play against some of the best athletes in the world in their age group, for their own person development, is crucial."
It's also built into UBC's development.
"I think it goes back to the experience," he said. "It is a tremendous opportunity. The ones that do go benefit and they come back and they bring that experience to their teams."
Swimmer van Beilen, who'll be moving to Vancouver from Oakville, Ont. in the fall to study kinesiology at UBC, will not be the first Universiade medalist to make the move.
Edmonton native Annamay Pierse, world medalist and 2012 London Summer Olympic Games hopeful, also moved to Vancouver to attend UBC.
"This is a really good way to keep some of the best athletes in the country," said Janice Hanan, UBC assistant swim coach, about the Games. She also noted Vancouvers high-level swim programs. "It is an absolutely draw for [athletes] that would [otherwise] definitely be drawn to the American system."
UBC's participation in international athletic competitions like the Universiade offers expanded possibilities for UBC student-athletes, on top of already existing programs, Hanan said.
For Yu, UBC men's basketball team captain and a leading force in team Canada's silver win in China, the options have already began expanding.
In Shenzhen, Yu was approached by officials who expressed an interest in potentially signing the T-bird player into a professional league, his coach said.
"It's pretty amazing for these students to have that opportunity," Hanson said. It's invaluable."
Twitter: @kimiyasho
