Standing at the starting line of the 2024 International University Sports Federation (FISU) World University Triathlon Championships will be a victory in itself for Jordyn Bandstra’s (BSc ’22).

The Brock Medical Sciences graduate, along with eight other student-athletes, will represent Canada at the competition from Friday, Aug. 30 to Saturday, Aug. 31 in Gdańsk, Poland.

Bandstra’s time at Brock and as a member of the Badgers varsity women’s swimming team helped shape her into the athlete she is today.

“My experiences as a student-athlete were instrumental in preparing me for competing at the World University Triathlon Championships,” she says. “Balancing the demands of academics and athletics taught me the importance of time management, discipline and resilience — skills that are crucial at the international level.”

Her meandering journey to the World Championships has been marked by personal determination and community support.

In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bandstra’s athletic career was nearly derailed by a bike accident that left her with a torn labrum in her shoulder. Her recovery required surgery and an arduous 18-month rehabilitation.

“I had a really hard time as my whole identity of being a swimmer was ripped away from me due to injury and COVID restrictions at the pool,” she says. “I really struggled with my mental health.”

What seemed like a setback at the time became a turning point in Bandstra’s athletic career.

With swimming temporarily off the table, she turned her focus to biking and running, eventually joining a triathlon team.

“Looking back on this now, I feel as if that time in my life was a blessing in disguise,” she says. “Thanks to the amazing coaches and staff at Brock Sports Performance, I was able to recover really well.”

Once she was cleared for swimming, Bandstra began to train for all three disciplines — swimming, biking and running — and started to compete in entry-level races before moving on to provincial, national and now international competitions.

Representing Canada at the FISU World University Triathlon Championships is not just a personal achievement for Bandstra; it is a tribute to everyone who has supported her along the way.

“It’s an incredible honour and a defining moment in both my personal and professional journey. This opportunity showcases my commitment and ability to perform under pressure, and opens doors for further athletic and career opportunities,” she says.

Bandstra also credits her coach, Peter Bradstreet, for his unwavering support throughout her time at Brock.

“I was fortunate enough to have had Peter as my coach for all four years while at Brock before he retired,” she said. “Without his support, not only in swimming and through injury, but through a lot of the changes that come with university, I wouldn’t be the person or athlete I am today.”

As she heads to Gdańsk, Bandstra is driven not only by the desire to compete but also by a sense of gratitude to those who have been part of her journey.

“Whether it be coaches, teammates, professors, family or friends, they are all there to support you. In a way, racing internationally and giving it my all is a way to show them how much their support means to me,” she says.