HIGH ACHIEVERS: Wheelchair fencer Trinity Lowthian heading to Oxford as Rhodes Scholar

By Martin Cleary

Trinity Lowthian is obsessed with learning.

“I really love learning,” explained Lowthian, 23, who responded to challenging health issues to excel as a student academically and as an athlete, immersing herself in a new sport and successfully competing two years later at the 2024 Paralympic Summer Games.

“I love exploring new things. I enjoy learning from others and pushing myself out of my comfort zone.”

So, it was no wonder a flyer pinned to a bulletin board several years ago at South Carleton High School immediately caught her attention.

The information sheet talked about becoming a Rhodes Scholar, which was designed by Cecil Rhodes to attract the world’s best young leaders to the University of Oxford based on their intellect, character and commitment to public service.

The process to become a Rhodes Scholar is long and involved. But Lowthian thought it was a cool idea and she stored that moment in the back of her mind, but brought it forward every so often.

On Nov. 13, that cool idea Lowthian had been thinking about for about six years suddenly became the coolest reality ever.

Lowthian no longer had to wonder about becoming a Rhodes Scholar because a phone call that night confirmed she had passed all the stages to earn a prestigious Rhodes Scholarship, which will allow her to pursue full-time postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England, for the 2026 academic year.

One of the world’s top wheelchair epee category B fencers, Lowthian was selected as one of two Rhodes Scholars-elects from Ontario last month and one of 11 from across Canada.

A prestigious, global academic honour, she will receive a full-ride Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford and plans to apply for doctoral (PhD) studies in primary health care and translational health science. Lowthian, who will have no formal classes, will travel to Oxford in September and begin her research in October.

During her three years of research, the international postgraduate award will cover her tuition, fees, living expenses and travel as well as provide her with a monthly stipend for living. The Rhodes Scholar program is aimed at exceptional young leaders from around the world.

“I was in so much shock,” Lowthian said this week in a phone interview, when she received the news about nine hours after her 30-minute interview with the Canadian selection committee. “It hasn’t sunk in even yet.

“I didn’t feel that great after the thing (interview). I felt I blew it.”

Lowthian was one of about 15 candidates who gathered in Toronto in the middle of November to be interviewed by a panel of eight academics for the two Rhodes Scholarships.

“It was intimidating with eight panellists, who were experts and accomplished people,” Lowthian explained. “It was an interesting experience. But everyone was friendly. They told me at the end of the interview I would get a call later that day.”

For the next nine hours, Lowthian wondered if that phone call would bring a positive or a negative message. She kept herself busy with friends in Toronto by attending the inaugural final of the Northern Super League women’s soccer final, which Vancouver Rise FC won 2-1 over AFC Toronto.

While her friends tried to distract her, Lowthian understandably was feeling more anxious by the hour.

But just as she was returning to her rental property that night, she received that decisive phone call, which lasted about one minute. After opening pleasantries were exchanged, she received word she had been selected for a Rhodes Scholarship for 2026.

“They were on a speaker phone and I knew that was good,” Lowthian added. “They said my day was about to get better.

“I blanked out after they said that. I must have said thank you 900 times.”

Getting to that interview stage in Toronto was an achievement in itself.

In the months leading to her June graduation to receive her honours bachelor degree in nutrition and food science, Lowthian decided to begin the process of applying for a Rhodes Scholarship.

She was one of several University of Ottawa students filling out the paperwork for the prestigious scholarship, but the university could only endorse two candidates to move forward to the Ontario level.

In October, Lowthian was informed she had been granted an interview. Her preparation for such a big academic moment included going through a mock interview with former Rhodes Scholars from the University of Ottawa.

Lowthian is currently pursuing her master’s degree in human kinetics with a specialization in sport management. Earlier this year, she completed a Pfizer-sponsored internship program with the Canadian Paralympic Committee, where she strengthened her sport management skills and understanding of the Canadian sports system.

Lowthian plans to continue pursuing her young athletic career as a wheelchair fencer and is focused on qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympic Summer Games. She will compete in a World Cup competition in February in Italy.

In 2022, the multi-sport athlete emerged from a challenging health issue, when her autonomic nervous system was compromised, and took up wheelchair fencing. Two years later, she placed fifth in epee category B at the Paris Paralympic Summer Games for Canada’s best-ever wheelchair fencing result. She also was 13th in sabre.

Being located in England and closer to Europe, she hopes to increase her international resume with more tournament competitions. She was ninth in epee at the 2025 world championships.

“I think I will balance things well,” Lowthian said about her academic and athletic workloads. “They have a wheelchair program at Oxford and in the United Kingdom.

“I will definitely miss my coach (Paul ApSimon at the Ottawa Fencing Club) and my club. It’s something new, but it’s OK to balance. It will work for me.”

ALEXIS GUIMOND STRIKES WORLD CUP SUPER-G GOLD IN AUSTRIA

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The alpine ski course at Steinach am Brenner, Austria, has given para skier Alexis Guimond of Gatineau yet another memorable moment. But this time it’s another good memory.

Last year, he suffered a serious injury during a warmup FIS race at the Austrian hill, which happened the day before the start of the 2024-25 World Cup season. He was airlifted to a hospital and had surgery for a spinal contusion.

On Thursday, Guimond returned to Steinach am Brenner and posted his first World Cup victory in two years, when he won the men’s super-G. His last win also was in a super-G race and it also was at Steinach am Brenner.

Guimond, who will be one of Canada’s team captains at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Paralympic Winter Games in March, recorded the fastest time of one minute, 9.21 seconds to finish 2.34 seconds ahead of France’s Jules Segers. Robin Cuche of Switzerland was 3.15 seconds behind Guimond in third place.

“I woke up with a lot of intentions and I just demonstrated my potential,” Guimond told Sportcom in an interview. “There was a big tactical aspect to it.

“After talking to many of my competitors, several weren’t as aggressive on the starting line. I was very aggressive from the start and I had a lot of speed at the first intermediate time. I think that’s what made the difference.”

After winning at Steinach am Brenner in 2023 and crashing there to delay the start of his World Cup season in 2024, Guimond conquered the course for a second time Thursday.

“A year later, it’s still great to finally get a win. It’s a breath of fresh air.”

Guimond went on to replicate the result with another victory in the super-G on Friday in Steinach am Brenner, this time winning in 1:12.33 with a gap of .97 seconds over second place.

Kalle Eriksson and Ottawa guide skier Sierra Smith did not compete in the first World Cup of the season. Smith noted they had funding challenges last season, when they also had to skip some events.

Read More: ‘Meteoric rise’ puts Ottawa guide Sierra Smith in contention for Milano Cortina medal as Paralympic ski season begins

SCHMIDTS EACH ADVANCE THROUGH ONE ROUND IN TWO DAYS AT SEASON-OPENING SKI CROSS WORLD CUP

Hannah and Jared Schmidt of Dunrobin had a lukewarm start to the 2025-26 World Cup ski cross season in their first two competitions on Thursday and Friday in Val Thorens, France.

Hannah qualified ninth on Wednesday, but finished in third place in her only women’s ski cross heat on Thursday, which was the quarterfinal. Only the top two skiers advance after each elimination race.

Canadian teammate Brittany Phelan was second in that quarter-final heat and went on to place sixth overall, while Courtney Hoffos, from the other side of the bracket, earned the silver medal position.

Canada’s India Sherret was 13th, while Canadian Marielle Thompson did not start the race; the 2024 World Cup circuit overall champion who won five races in 2025 is on the road to returning from a knee injury.

Hannah is seeking one of four available Olympic spots on the highly competitive Canadian team.

Jared was fourth in his round-of-16 heat Thursday and was eliminated from the competition after his only race. He finished 29th overall.

Kevin Drury was the top Canadian in the men’s event in 13th, followed by Reece Howden in 25th.

In a second competition on Friday, Hannah was one of three Canadian women in the small final. She missed a gate in an area with perhaps the sharpest turn on the World Cup circuit following a jump to place eighth overall, with Hoffos in seventh and Phelan in sixth.

Sherret was involved in a rough crash in her quarterfinal and had to be sledded off the course.

Jared made it through the 1/8 round but was knocked out in the quarters to place 13th overall. Drury won the gold medal while Howden topped the small final for fifth place.

Jared was part of the group of Canadian teammates to swarm 37-year-old Drury after his win.

“It just goes to show the strength of Team Canada, right? We actually care about each other,” Drury said in his post-race interview on the FIS broadcast. “We want each other to do well. It just brings everyone up. So, I’m really excited for this season for the whole team. I think there’s gonna be some really good things coming.”

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