VU elite athletes represent Australia

Six Victoria University student-athletes will represent Australia on the world stage as part of the national Uniroos team at the 2019 World Summer Universiade in Napoli, Italy, 3 – 4 July.

This is the highest number of VU athletes ever to join the country’s peak university athletes for the 12-day summer world University games. The biannual games feature more than 10,000 participants from 150 countries in 15 sports.

The event, last held in Taipei, Taiwan in 2017, can be a stepping stone to the Olympics for many athletes. Featuring opening and closing ceremonies, the World Summer Universiade is broadcast to more than 100 countries, drawing about 300 million viewers worldwide.

VU representatives

The VU representatives are:

• Lauren Scherf – Basketball,  Bachelor Sport Science (Phys Ed Secondary)
• Maddison Rocci – Basketball, Diploma of Sport Development
• Sergei Evglevski – Shooting, Bachelor of Business
• Maeve Coughlan – Judo, Bachelor of Exercise Science (Clinical Practice)
• Liam Park – Judo, Bachelor of Business
• Tayla Nolte –Taekwondo, Bachelor of Exercise Science (Sport Practice)

Elite Athlete program helps study–sport balance

VU is a long-standing member of the Australian Institute of Sport’s (AIS) Elite Athlete Education Network, which helps student-athletes balance the demands of education and high-level competitive sport.

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Marcia Devlin said VU was enormously proud of the students, and, in particular, the strong female representation in the group, quoting the International University Sport Federation motto.

“You are today’s stars, and tomorrow’s leaders. At VU, we believe the health, well-being and experiences that students gain from university sport help them become exemplary leading members of society.”

VU has more than 140 registered student-athletes spanning 35 sports and a range of courses across all VU Colleges and VU Polytechnic. Many of VU’s student-athletes have competed at major local and international events, including the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games, world championships, World University Games, and as part of national championships and leagues.

VU is recognised as one of Australia’s leading sport universities, and is internationally renowned in research and education in Sport, Health and Active Living.

Watch a video of the Australian Uniroos at the 2017 Summer Universiade in Taipei