The Gold Coast Delivers Another Unforgettable Week of Student Sport

UniSport Nationals wraps up with The University of Sydney securing a sixth straight title and the University of Queensland voted Spirit Champions 

The curtain has closed on the 2025 UniSport Nationals, and what a week it has been on the Gold Coast. With thousands of student-athletes, officials, volunteers, and supporters coming together to compete and connect, the atmosphere was electric, energetic and fun. 

Nationals once again showcased the very best of university sport in Australia, capped off by a remarkable sixth straight overall title for The University of Sydney (USYD). 

USYD have now laid early claim to the coveted Overall National Champion’s Trophy for the sixth consecutive year, securing the necessary pennants needed to retain their crown. This triumph also marked USYD’s 16th overall title, further cementing their reputation as the benchmark of excellence across multiple disciplines. 

Throughout the year, from stand-alone National Championships to Nationals on the Gold Coast, USYD’s student-athletes performed at the highest level, displaying the depth, versatility, and resilience. Their achievement is not only a celebration of sustained performance but also a testament to the dedication of their coaches, team managers, and the broader university sporting community that supports them. 

The scale of Nationals continues to impress, with 2025 delivering growth in participation numbers. This year’s Gold Coast Nationals brought together over 6,600 competitors from 40 member universities competing in 32 sports. They were keenly supported by a record 550 Non-Competing Officials (NCOs) ensuring the smooth delivery of all competitions held across the 35 sports venues spanning the entire Gold Coast. 

An extraordinary 3,600 medals were awarded (3,000 in Division 1 and 600 in Division 2), congratulations to all who won and all who competed. 

An event the size and scale of Nationals would not be possible without all the university team managers, whose organisation, planning, and dedication ensured thousands of students were ready to compete and represent their institutions with pride. 

Equally deserving of recognition are our volunteers. From score keepers, to logistics crews and venue support, these 219 individuals gave countless hours to ensure every match, game, and day ran efficiently. Nationals simply could not happen without their generosity of time and spirit. 

These figures demonstrate the size and strength of university sport as a unifying force for students across the country. 

The Gold Coast proved, once again, to be the perfect stage for Nationals. With its blend of premier sporting facilities, stunning beaches, and vibrant social scene, the city has earned its reputation as a world-class sporting destination. 

UniSport extends its sincere thanks to our strategic partners, Experience Gold Coast and Tourism and Events Queensland, for their support in bringing Nationals to life. Their commitment to championing major events ensures student sport is celebrated on one of the biggest stages in the country. 

If Nationals is about competition by day, UniFest was about celebration by night. Brand new to the 2025 Nationals was the introduction of a midweek social event called UniFest, with nearly 3,000 students flocking to the Broadwater Parklands. 

Brought to life by our strategic partners and with the energy and support of Red Bull, UniFest was a highlight of the week, offering student-athletes the chance to unwind, connect, and celebrate their achievements. The sold-out event, with 3,500 tickets snapped up, has affirmed its place as a signature feature of the future Nationals experience. 

This year also saw the introduction of the GYG Match of the Day, an exciting new initiative that brought university sport to more screens than ever before. Thanks to the support of Guzman y Gomez (GYG) and the production expertise of QUT Sport, Match of the Day featured five marquee sports broadcasts, live and free on UniSportTV across five days. 

From thrilling basketball and netball clashes to intense water polo and football showdowns, this innovation gave athletes the chance to shine on a national platform and also provided Work Integrated Learning opportunities with real-world experience for student volunteers in media and broadcasting. 

While the statistics and titles tell one story, the real magic of Nationals lies in the community it creates. Thousands of students came together to represent their universities, forge new friendships, and experience the pride of being part of something bigger than themselves. It is more than a competition, it is a student experience combining sport, education and the spirit of competition.  

The 2025 John White Spirit Champion University is the University of Queensland (UQ), who also won the Ron Leahy Trophy as North Spirit Champions. The Spirit of South Award was once again awarded to Monash University, with Charles Sturt University winning the Ben Tjen & Shane Alvisio Trophy as East Spirit Champions and Edith Cowan University retaining the West Spirit Trophy. The spirit trophies are awarded to the universities who have displayed the most exemplary spirit throughout the week. Votes are submitted daily by competition managers, university team managers, UniSport staff and event volunteers.   

UniSport has one more National University Championship to go in 2025, Cheer & Dance, and once the results for that are in, we will announce all pennant winners, as well as the winners of the Overall Doug Ellis Per Capita Champion University and all regional champions for 2025. 

As we reflect on Nationals 2025, it’s clear that this has been a landmark year. The record numbers, new initiatives, and outstanding performances have raised the bar yet again. 

“Nationals 2025 showcased the very best of Australian university sport,” said UniSport CEO Mark Sinderberry. “Congratulations to the University of Sydney on a sixth straight overall title, and thank you to every student, team manager and volunteer who brought the week to life. We’re grateful to our strategic partners Experience Gold Coast and Tourism and Events Queensland for providing an outstanding stage for our event.” 

The University of Sydney’s sixth consecutive overall title will stand as a headline, but the true legacy of Nationals 2025 is the spirit of participation, connection, and celebration that echoed across the Gold Coast. Nationals 2025 will be remembered for its scale, its spirit, and its stories. 

Here’s to 2026, and the next opportunity for thousands of student-athletes to once again write their names into the story of UniSport Nationals. 

See you in Perth, Western Australia for Nationals 2026. 

Thank You to Our Partners 

UniSport Australia proudly acknowledges the ongoing support of our valued partners. In particular, we extend our gratitude to: 

Experience Gold Coast and Tourism and Events Queensland, whose backing has helped make the Gold Coast an elite sporting destination for students. 

New Balance and Belgravia, our official merchandise partner. 

Red Bull, for fuelling the atmosphere and bringing UniFest to life. 

GYG and QUT Sport, for pioneering the Match of the Day and expanding the reach of university sport through live broadcasts. 

Maxiblock, Sports Medicine Australia, Everclime, Riggs Recovery, Surf Diff, Gold Coast Public Health, Sport Integrity Australia, Budgie Smuggler, Sportslink Travel, Sports Chaplaincy, RUOK? and all our other support partners. 

Your support is what allows Nationals to thrive, evolve, and grow year after year. 

Follow our social pages as we announce the winners of each pennant over the coming days.