Brock Badgers rowing made its mark on the international stage.

Current Brock student-athletes Charles-Etienne Tabet and Keithan Woodhouse, along with associate coach Mary Rao, competed at the 2025 International University Sports Federation (FISU) Summer World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany. 

"We're proud of Charles, Keithan, and Coach Mary for representing Canada with determination and resilience at the FISU Summer World University Games," said Brock head coach Katie Bruggeling. "Competing against the world's best is an incredible experience, and they brought the same focus and work ethic that defines our program."

The official FISU competition started Wednesday, July 16, while the rowing events began Friday, July 25 and wrapped up Sunday, July 27. 

Woodhouse partnered with Calvin Pally of the Saskatchewan Huskies in the 23-team men's double sculls event, finishing ninth overall and third in the B final with a time of seven minutes, one second and four milliseconds. 

After a strong showing in the heats (6:48:28), the duo placed sixth in the first A/B semifinal after crossing the finish line in a time of 6:49.72. 

In the men's single sculls competition that featured 29 boats, Tabet captured a victory in the C final, placing 13th overall with a finals time of 7:10.67. 

In his heat, the Boucherville, Que., native placed third (7:23.23) before a fifth-place finish in 7:44.34 in the first of four quarterfinals. 

Along with leading the men's single and double sculls events, Rao also helped coach the women's coxless four which consisted of Ceilidh Aho (Guelph Gryphons), Olivia Calbeck (Western Mustangs), Ceilidh MacDonald (Queen's Gaels) and Madelyn Vandermeer (UBC Thunderbirds) to a fifth-place finish (7:28.56).

Rao was one of two coaches with the Canadian team, alongside Stephanie Marchand, the head coach of McGill's men's and women's rowing teams.

The 13 athletes on the FISU roster were hosted and supported by Brock throughout their training in June and July, and Rao played a key role in training and preparing these athletes out of the Badgers boathouse on Henley Island. 

For more information about the FISU World University Games, visit their offical website.