HIGH ACHIEVERS: Williams sisters devastated after late cancellation of FISU Winter Universiade due to Omicron variant

By Martin Cleary

Cross-country skiing sisters Zoe and Bronwyn Williams were blindsided and in shock Monday, after the 2021 Winter Universiade was cancelled less than two weeks before the start of competition in Lucerne, Switzerland.

The Carleton University student-athletes from Cantley, Que., totalled almost $9,300 on a MakeAChamp fundraising campaign to cover the cost of their trips to the world university games, but, if asked, they’re willing to return any donations to their supporters.

Read More: Carleton U’s Williams sisters study, ski and fundraise their way to FISU Winter Universiade

The recent arrival of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 caused the Swiss federal government to enact incoming travel restrictions for a wide range of European countries. More restrictions are expected in the future. The FISU executive committee and the Lucerne 2021 Winter Universiade Association met and announced “with deep regret” the Dec. 11-21 Games “will no longer take place.”

The COVID-19 pandemic had already postponed the 30th Universiade at the start of 2021 and organizers were hoping to stage the games next month. A second postponement wasn’t possible as the next edition of the Winter Universiade is slated for 2023 in Lake Placid, New York.

“We are incredibly devastated and shocked,” the Williams sisters wrote in a joint statement on Zoe’s Twitter account. “We had been told that the last chance of cancellation would be announced in October and so had never anticipated it being cancelled two weeks before the first event.”

The Williams sisters, who had planned to ski in four individual races each and possibly two team races during the games, were named to their first Universiade team as part of the 102 student-athletes on Team Canada.

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Zoe, who graduated last spring in neuroscience and mental health, travelled to Switzerland on Friday for a pre-games training camp, while Bronwyn, a third-year psychology student, had planned to leave with the rest of the team later this week. Canada was expected to be among a number of delegations that originally would have been required to undergo a 10-day quarantine period because of the new variant. But that quarantine wouldn’t have elapsed until after the scheduled start of the Universiade.

“To everyone who donated and shared our campaign for fundraising, thank you,” Zoe and Bronwyn continued. “The support we have received from everyone the past few weeks has been incredible; I cannot express how much it has meant to us and how grateful we are.

“We want to extend our deepest apologies for the fact that you donated and supported us on a journey that now will not be happening.”

They added if they are refunded, they would use the money to pay for the Olympic Games and U23 trials in January and the Canadian championships in March. If they are unable to receive a refund, the money will go towards paying for a future Universiade.

“However, if you would like your donation refunded, please send me an email or shoot me a direct message,” the Williams sisters added.

While still in shock, Bronwyn sent an email to High Achievers: Stay-Safe Edition thanking everyone involved in the games.

“To be honest, I am still in shock,” she wrote. “We were both incredibly excited to attend the event, which we have been preparing for for a while now. The fact that it has been cancelled so close to the event is quite devastating!

“My heart goes out to all the organizers that worked so hard to put on the event, the support teams that have planned logistics for the trip and all the athletes that I am sure have been waiting in anticipation just like I have. Truly unfortunate.”

Kieran Jones, the former head coach of the Nakkertok Ski Club, which is the competitive club for the Williams sisters, also was devastated by the news.

“Absolutely gutted for two of my favourite people having their dreams smashed up at the last minute,” he wrote in response to the Williams’ joint tweet. “Brutal situation to be in, but fitness and preparation will not be squandered, and Bronwyn and Zoe are the definition of resilience.”

The quick spreading Omicron variant left organizers of the Lucerne 2021 Winter Universiade with no option but to cancel the games, after one postponement.

“Many more restrictions are expected in the coming days,” Lucerne 2021 organizers said in a press release Monday. “Similar restrictions are also being announced by national authorities elsewhere, and the first case involving the Omicron variant has already been identified in Switzerland.”

FISU acting President Leonz Eder was saddened by the announcement.

“In the face of travel restrictions being imposed in Switzerland and all around the world we have had no other choice but to cancel the Lucerne 2021 Winter Universiade,” he said. “The new travel restrictions mean that staging the event has now been made impossible.”

Lucerne 2021 had already implemented extensive COVID-19 protocols for the health and wellbeing of all participants. But the World Health Organization identified the newly-discovered Omicron as a variant of concern, and the Swiss federal government enacted incoming travel restrictions on many European nations and put them on a quarantine list.

“Holding the event in December was already a Plan B,” said FISU Secretary General-CEO Eric Saintrond, “so postponing again was not an option. I am deeply saddened to announce that our dream to hold this prestigious event in Switzerland this year is now over.”

Canada was planning to send a team of 144 student-athletes, coaches, officials and mission staff. The 102 student-athletes raised thousands of dollars to travel to the Universiade and participate in men’s and women’s hockey, men’s and women’s curling, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, biathlon, snowboarding and short-track speed skating.

The members of the Canadian Winter Universiade team selected from the National Capital Region were:

ATHLETES

Biathlon
Zoe Pekos, Richmond, B.C., University of Ottawa, biology;
Shilo Rousseau, Thessalon, ON., University of Ottawa, biology;

Alpine skiing
Hunter Watson, Ottawa, Plymouth State University, finance;

Curling, men’s
Robert Lyon-Hatcher, Ottawa, Wilfrid Laurier University, psychology;

Hockey, men’s
Liam Hawel, Arnprior, ON., St. Francis Xavier University, business administration;
Nicolas Rivet-Mattinen, Ottawa, University of Ottawa, human kinetics;

Hockey, women’s
Christine Deaudelin, Beloeil, Que., University of Ottawa, criminology;
Aurelle Dubuc, Trois-Rivieres, Que., University of Ottawa, physical education science;

COACHES

Hockey, men’s
Patrick Grandmaitre, assistant coach, University of Ottawa;

Hockey, women’s
Greg Bowles, team leader/assistant coach, University of Ottawa;

MISSION STAFF

Nadine Smith, Carleton University, therapist.