Five Cochrane athletes from the Cochrane Water Ninjas were part of Team Canada’s strong showing at the 2025 RLSS Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships.
The three-day event, held July 10–13 in Swansea, Wales, wrapped up with the Canadian development team earning six bronze medals — four in individual events and two in women’s relay races. Water Ninjas played a role in three of the medals.
Yesterday, the athletes gathered at Cochrane Home Treasures to receive a $5,000 donation and to present keepsakes from their Commonwealth success.
The Water Ninjas don’t take the donation for granted. In turn, they will be volunteering at the Cochrane Food Bank.
Parent Katie Smith said the donation from Home Treasures means a great deal to the team and families.
“Sponsorship from Home Treasures is really significant because all of the competition and the travel is funded personally,” she said. “So to have that community support financially, and even the moral support, is greatly appreciated.”
Danika Fisher was a member of the women’s development relay team and has two bronze medals to show from her first appearance at the Commonwealth Championships. One came in the mannequin carry relay; the other in the rescue medley relay.
Fisher said the second medal was particularly memorable, decided by a matter of milliseconds. She swam the final segment.
“I remember when I touched the wall, we were all just looking at the scoreboard, waiting to see. It was a magical moment when we realized we had won, and the whole team jumped in the water,” she said. “It was a great moment to go home with two medals and for the girls to make it onto the podium, which is a big deal for Canada.”
Oliver Johnson won an individual bronze medal in the 100-m carry with fins. He also broke four Canadian youth national records — half of the eight set at the meet.
“It was tonnes of fun travelling with the team and getting to compete on an international level,” Johnson said.
Johnson, who has recently completed a banner season with the Cochrane Piranhas Summer Swim Club, believes the sport is gaining traction, both in Cochrane and across Canada.
“When I started, I think the Water Ninjas club was maybe half the size it is today. It’s now expanding into central Canada, so it’s catching on.”
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Johnson won a silver last fall at the Worlds on the Gold Coast of Australia alongside fellow Water Ninja Isaac Thibodeau, and other Team Canada members Yannick Morgans and Anna-Maria Skinder in the simulated emergency response competition.
Isaac Thibodeau and Jack Dunse were both moved up to the men’s open national team and competed in the 2023 Commonwealth championship as part of the development team.
Thibodeau said the jump to the men’s team came with more pressure, but he embraced it.
“I was used to being really competitive and fighting hard on that youth team, but stepping up and competing against these 25-year-olds who are in their prime, setting Commonwealth records, was very daunting. That first race was scary, but once we settled in and I got my feet grounded, it was fun — really like any other competition.”
Dunse said the results this time around were a clear step up for the entire Canadian team.
“Team Canada did absolutely amazing compared to last time. We’ve had a massive improvement in both placement overall and individual placement, as well as medalling. When we last went to Commonwealths, we returned with two medals. This time around we earned six, as well as many national records. The team is still improving, and the sport in Canada continues to grow.”
Caebri Smith was an alternate for Canada’s Worlds team last year, but it wasn’t until December’s Orange Cup that he got his first taste of international competition. In fact, all five of them competed in Netherlands.
“The Orange Cup really set us up, so I knew what I was going into. I knew the practices were going to be difficult, and there was going to be hard competition, but it was also going to be a lot of fun. It really mentally prepared me.”
Smith said the social side of international meets has been just as rewarding as the competition. Beyond the pool, the athletes played in the ocean and spent time on a university campus with teammates and other competitors.
One of his highlights was finishing fourth in the 200-m super lifesaver.
“It was a little disappointing being on the brink of the podium, but I’m still so proud. I broke the national record by three seconds with that one, too, so I was super happy.”
Canadian athletes produced a string of personal bests and near-podium results, including several fourth-place finishes. Officials said every team member contributed to the country’s overall performance.
When asked what’s next, the athletes answered separately, yet still in unison: the 2026 Worlds in South Africa.
The Worlds offer a different challenge, adding lifesaving events in the ocean. They have been finding ways to overcome being from a landlocked province.
Like the rest, Smith is training in hopes of making the team. He is competing at the Surf Nationals next week in hopes of being pre-selected — or at least to measure up against the competition.
The other Water Ninjas have also been doing surf training with one of the national coaches in hopes of making the Worlds squad.
“We’re all going to keep working hard at it, because it’s such a huge opportunity,” Dunse said. “It would be amazing if we could all make it together and have this huge Cochrane presence.”
National coaches have been watching the Water Ninjas closely for some time. They are reigning national and provincial champions, and beyond their athletic abilities, they have a team spirit to be envied.
Definitely, “All for one, and one for all.”
And they’ve got all of Cochrane behind them. Go Water Ninjas!
