History

Australia first competed at the FISU Summer World University Games in Tokyo, Japan in 1967 and has been involved in every event since with the exception of 1975 in Rome, Italy. During that time Australian student-athletes have amassed a total of 167 medals, achieving Australia’s highest ever medal tally position of 10th in Kazan, Russia in 2013.

Australia’s history in the FISU Winter World University Games (WUG) dates back to 1985 and has seen Australian student-athletes compete in 13 of the last 27 events with unbroken involvement since 1991. The UniRoos have entered teams for events such as figure skating, speed skating, snowboard cross, ski cross, cross country skiing and freestyle skiing. 

​Australia’s best ever result at a FISU Winter WUG is two silver medals by Amber Arazny (Snowboard: Ladies’ Slopestyle) and Joss McAlpin (Snowboard: Men’s Big Air) in Almaty, Kazakhstan in 2017. 

World Universiades and Olympic Medallists

The World Universades feature more than 20,000 athletes from 170 countries. For many, the events are a crucial stepping stone for talent progression on the international scene as young stars strive for Commonwealth and Olympic Games selection.

Trap shooter and 2013 Summer Universiade champion, Catherine Skinner led the UniRoos into the opening ceremony at the 2015 Summer Universiade before going on to win two bronze medals, first in the individual trap event as defending champion, and then as the leader of the women’s teams event. In 2016, Skinner won Olympic gold in Rio in the women’s trap with a near flawless campaign that will be etched in history as one of the greatest performances of the 2016 Olympic Games.