Last Friday, the UBC swim team hosted their annual Alumni meet. Former Thunderbird swimmers convened at the aquatic centre to show the current team what they are still made of.
The deck of the pool was a swirl of activity as swimmers warmed up and alumni greeted each other. Hugs were exchanged, introductions were made and stories were shared. The camaraderie between the swimmers — young and old — was immediately obvious.
"Everyone networks and you build off of these things, you really do. It's not just lip service," said Chris Erikson, a UBC political science professor and former Thunderbird swimmer. "There was nothing like this when I was an undergrad. It's great to be part of it."
The alumni team has faced serious allegations of cheating in the past, including claims that they use illegal swimsuits, false start and don't finish laps. The Ubyssey could not independently verify the allegations and no official disqualifications were made.
"We are relying a lot on training from past years rather than any current training," said Ian Robertson, a Thunderbird swimmer from 1981-86 who now works as a portfolio manager at Odium Brown. "The alumni go with the suits that were legal when they swam."
The alumni took off to an early lead — there may have been a false start involved — but the Thunderbirds training allowed them to tie the meet at 24. But once the relays started, the 'Birds didn't stand a chance. The alumni's years of experience along with illegal bathing suits, early dives and flip turns in the middle of the field allowed them to build and grow a lead, eventually winning the competition 60-88.
"It's a great way to get the alumni back together ... but it's also a good way for us to have a little bit of competitive fun," said Tera Van Beilen a fifth-year kinesiology student and swimmer who is currently training for the Olympics. "The alumni love to cheat and we let them."
"For a lot of these varsity swimmers, this history is just names on a board ... It brings some of them back and relates those great performances to a face," said Brian Johns, a three-time Olympian, Thunderbird from 2000-2008 and the current assistant coach.
Share this article
