Men’s Swimming News

U SPORTS sits down with one key athlete, coach, and staff member of each U SPORTS athletic program in our interview series “Getting to know…”

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  • Name: Jonathan Naisby        
  • School: Université de Sherbrooke
  • Sport: Swimming        
  • Events: breaststroke, freestyle sprint and relay
  • Year of eligibility: 5
  • Program: Applied political science (Master’s)
  • Hometown: Sherbrooke, Que.

1. What attracted you to Université de Sherbrooke?

I mainly made my decision based on the sports facilities and the coach at Université de Sherbrooke. Also, I’m from Sherbrooke and I know the place well. The choice was therefore fairly easy to make.

2. What’s your favourite memory, and your greatest athletic achievement as a U SPORTS student-athlete?

My best memory is definitely the last U SPORTS Swimming Championship in Toronto in 2018. I won two bronze medals in the 50m and 100m breaststroke and I also set new RSEQ records. 

3. Where are you hoping your path will take you after university?

Good question! I’m currently doing a master’s degree in political science. I don’t quite know where my university path will lead me, I’m living in the present moment. This is my fifth year of eligibility at the U SPORTS level. I’m staying focused on my studies, but I still don’t know where it will all lead to!

4. Who’s had the greatest influence on your athletic career?

The person who’s had the biggest impact on my athletic career is probably my father. He was a swimmer as well, at a very high level actually. He participated in two Olympics, in 1972 and 1976, and I think he played a big part in my initial attraction to swimming and competition.

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5. Who is someone in the sports world, past or present, with whom you’d love to have dinner with? Why?

It would probably be Adam Peaty, the world record holder in the 100m breaststroke. He is a truly exceptional athlete, with unparalleled talent, and I think one could learn a lot just by talking to him.

6. What is your pre-race ritual? Do you have any superstitions/idiosyncrasies around preparing yourself for a competition?

I’m not really superstitious. I have a routine for before my competitions, but it's more of a warm-up, stretching and concentration routine than a ritual.

7. What’s your go-to song to get pumped up for practice or a race?

Once again, I don’t have a particular go-to per se. I have a playlist with various songs that are high tempo. It puts me in the right frame of mind and increases my heart rate during my warm up.

8. What’s your favourite social media account to follow?

I follow several personalities from the world of swimming on social media. There isn’t really one account that I can single out as my favourite. These are athletes who compete all over the world, it’s exotic and I enjoy following this kind of athlete in swimming - it's inspiring.

9. If you could try another sport, what would it be and why?

Probably track and field, because it doesn’t necessarily require much agility!

10. What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you as an athlete?

I would say that the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to me is the disqualification at the national championship, the biggest competition in Canada. I was in the final, in Lane 5 and among the race leaders, and I managed to get disqualified.