Student athletes will be left with limited options if U of A swimming program ends
"I wanted to contribute to the U of A swim team," Cameron says.
RICH LAM The University of Alberta has decided to end its varsity swimming program after this season without alerting athletes, staff, or administration. This marked a sudden change for all parties involved in the program.
Three student athletes, Calli Giroux — a team captain — Shayne Bowie, and Annika Cameron — a rookie on the team — serve as different examples of how this decision impacts athletes directly.
Athletes, staff, alumni, and admin were notified of the notice through an email in the middle of the day. They had no prior notice or warning leaving no time for preparation. This has left the athletes with little to no options for next year. The Gateway reached out to the university for comment but did not receive a response in time of publication.
“I actually thought that the program was in a very good place. We were building the program up after the past couple of years through COVID-19. It was a complete shock,” Bowie said.
“I’m concerned for other student athletes,” Giroux says
With this decision, Bowie and Giroux highlighted two points. Bowie mentioned how ending the swimming program may inadvertently push Canadian swimmers to the United States through the National Collegiate Athletics Association, which would be “detrimental” to U Sports.
“U sports is still developing as itself, and I think that having one less school for swimmers to be able to go to in Canada would push them to go to the states,” Bowie said.
On the other hand, Giroux worries for other small U of A varsity programs.
“Our other concern is what programs are next, because if they’re going to make cuts like this, so effortlessly and so suddenly, I’m concerned for other student athletes, especially with smaller teams who don’t bring in funding,” Giroux said.
“I honestly don’t want a different coach,” Giroux says
Giroux has been swimming for nine years — the last three have been with the U of A while she pursues her fine arts degree.
“I’m in my third year. I can’t transfer, it’ll set me like a year behind in my program. I’m going to stay here and I will continue to swim club,” Giroux said.
Both Bowie and Cameron had parents swim on the team, and joined the club because of the familial ties and shared experiences. Being in their second year and first year respectively, they have a more accessible choice of transferring to a university that has a swimming program.
“I live at home, my parents are now having to look at sending two kids away to university. My brother is graduating [high school] this year and going to [the] U of A to swim was one of his options, but now that’s not an option,” Bowie said.
“I haven’t thought a lot about it, mainly because I don’t like thinking about it. It’s just a poor decision to have to make,” Cameron added.
They all agreed that Paul Birmingham, the head coach of the program, was one of the main reasons behind all their decisions to come to the U of A for swimming.
“A thing that kept me here is Birmingham. I’ve really loved training for him for the past four or five years, and having to face the idea of leaving that sooner [rather] than later is quite saddening for me,” Bowie said.
“I had done a few recruitment camps. One thing that finalized my decision right then and there was after having a meeting with Birmingham, and I knew that’s the coach I want coaching me for my swim career. That’s part of the reason why I am still staying because I honestly don’t want a different coach,” Giroux added.
Birmingham is also the head coach of the Edmonton Keyano Swim Club. Birmingham will continue coaching the club after the end of the program.
Although swimming club isn’t a bad option, Bowie highlighted how it does not align with the university schedule, making it difficult for student athletes to balance academics and sport.
“I wanted to contribute to the U of A swim team,” Cameron says
Bowie and Cameron’s parents are alumni of the program. Bowie’s father, Chris Bowie, was the most recent inductee to the U of A Sports Wall of Fame in 2023. Cameron’s parents met through the program, showing how valuable of a community the program serves for student athletes.
“[My dad] talks about how swimming with the team was some of the best times of his life. Staying here, I was really inspired by that, and I was super excited,” Bowie said.
“Having my parents swim and then swimming [myself], I wanted to contribute to the U of A swim team” Cameron said.
