Seven athletes from the Cochrane Water Ninjas—five team members and two alternates—have been selected to represent Canada at the 2025 Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships in Swansea, Wales, July 10 to 13.
Jack Dunse and Isaac Thibodeau have been named to the men’s open national team. Oliver Johnson and Caebri Smith will compete on the men’s development team, while Danica Fisher joins the women’s development team. Rylee Bashow and Corbin Gilbert have been selected as alternates.
The selection of seven competitors for Team Canada marks a milestone in the club’s legacy of athletic excellence. Water Ninjas head coach Alexx Diep said he’s proud of the group’s achievement.
“Watching these athletes grow over the years—both in and out of the pool—has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my coaching career,” said Diep. “Their work ethic, team spirit, and commitment to excellence make them outstanding representatives for Canada and for Cochrane. We're beyond proud.”
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The RLSS Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships are held every two years. They aim to promote participation in lifesaving sport, advance lifesaving practices, and strengthen ties within the international lifesaving community. The last championships were hosted by Windsor, Ont., in 2023.
All five selected team members have competed at previous international events. Most recently, Dunse, Thibodeau, Smith and Fisher represented Canada at the Orange Cup in the Netherlands. Johnson and Thibodeau also competed at the world championships in Australia.
Dunse and Thibodeau were among four Water Ninjas named to Canada’s roster for the 2023 Commonwealth championships.
Strong performance at nationals
Their latest selection follows a strong showing at the Canadian Pool Lifesaving Championships in May, held at the Windsor International Aquatic and Training Centre. Facing off against 211 athletes from 16 teams, the Water Ninjas brought home 22 medals: 11 gold, five silver, and six bronze.
The Cochrane Water Ninjas made a powerful splash at the Alberta and Northwest Territories Provincial Lifesaving Sport Competition in Calgary, held April 4 to 6, successfully defending both their provincial and junior team titles. It was their fourth consecutive title.
Over the course of the weekend, the team collected approximately 111 medals, while setting six new Canadian records, eight provincial records, and 24 club records.
Cochrane Water Ninjas is a premier Canadian lifesaving sport club, fostering elite athletes dedicated to both competition and water safety.
For more information about the Cochrane Water Ninjas and how to get involved, visit SLS Centre.