Varsity Blues male athlete of the year Zack Chetrat took last year off from school to focus on qualifying for the Olympics. The fifth year economics and political science major missed a spot on the Canadian team by two one-hundredths of a second, but his hard work has paid off, as he swam one of his best seasons ever.

He may not have made the Olympics, but Chetrat is currently preparing to represent Canada for the third time at the International University Sports Federation (FISU) Summer Universiade in Kazan, Russia. Over 9,000 university athletes compete in the event in a variety of sports from July 6–17.

Chetrat’s accomplishments this season include claiming the OUA and CIS titles for the fourth time in the 200-metre fly, and receiving the Grand Slam Award from both Canadian interuniversity organizations. He also set a meet record in the 400-metre free at the OUA championship. Chetrat also won gold in the 200-metre fly at Swimming Canada’s World Championship Trials, which qualified him for the World Championships in Barcelona at the end of July.

Chetrat led the Blues men’s swimming team to both the OUA and CIS championships. The CIS title was particularly significant because it ended the Blues’ 19 year drought. “The varsity environment is a great environment to train in, and we are all working together. We have been working towards winning CIS for several years, and it is something special to share as a team,” Chetrat said.

Chetrat attributed this season’s major successes to a lot of hard work and a great support structure. He is in the water 10 times a week, and spends time in the gym, for a total average of 25 hours of training of week.

“The successes I have had this year in swimming, I have not been able to manage to do alone; I have had a lot of help along the way. The coaches are great — Byron MacDonald really helped a lot, and [so did] my personal coach Ben Titley,” said Chetrat.

“The MacIntosh Clinic has also played an important role in my recovery. In addition, my grandparents own a restaurant in Hart House, so I get to eat there and see my family often, which is a positive aspect.”

Being part of the Canadian team for the next summer Olympics in Rio in 2016  is a long-term goal for Chetrat, but right now he is trying to focus on achieving smaller goals. He is aiming to finish in one of the top eight places at the FISU Universiade this year, and looking forward to sharing the experience in Kazan with five of his teammates on the Varsity Blues, some of whom will be going to the FISU games for the first time. Joining him in Kazan will be Blues teammates Frank Despond, Edward Liu, Chris Manning, Heather Maitland, and Paige Schultz.