SHISHKIN AND BETKER HEADING TO KAZAN RUSSIA FOR 2013 SUMMER UNIVERSIADE2012-07-06
University of Saskatchewan Huskies Sports Information Director Nicole Betker and Head Physical Therapist Rhonda Shishkin are headed to Kazan, Russia in July 2013 as part of the 27th Summer Universiade Canadian mission staff.
Betker will join the communications staff, while Shishkin will lend her skills to the Canadian medical team for next summer’s event, which is commonly known as FISU. The Summer Universiade is an international multi-sport event that takes place every two years, and is second only to the Olympic games in the number of participating athletes and countries.
The Kazan games will mark Betker’s first time as part of the Canadian FISU delegation and Shishkin’s second appearance. Shishkin was a member of the Canadian medical team for the 25th Summer Universiade in Belgrade, Serbia.
Betker and Shishkin will have the opportunity to work with colleagues from across the country to help student athletes from post-secondary institutions all over Canada to compete at the highest level on the world stage.
“Anytime you can work as part of a bigger team with other health care professional you are to bound to learn new things and bring new ideas back,” said Shishkin.
Shishkin will undoubtedly bring back new skills to the University of Saskatchewan, but Shishkin herself has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with her colleagues in Kazan next summer as well. Shishkin has been the head therapist with Huskie Athletics since 1997 and has a plethora of international experience. Shishkin has worked with host medical teams for the PanAm Games in 1999 and 2007, the Francophone Games in 2001 and the Commonwealth Games in 2002. She has also been involved with Athletics Canada since 1998, as well as the Senior Women’s Basketball Team since 2005. With the two national sport organizations, she has travelled to the World Junior Track & Field Championships, international competitions in Canada, France, Belgium and the Czech Republic, as well as numerous national championships.
Betker who is entering her sixth season with the Huskies has been part of numerous CIS national championships both at home and afar. Betker is looking forward to working at the international level for the first time as part of the dynamic communications team heading to Kazan.
Betker had this to say about her appointment, “I'm excited to be a part of this team. I look forward to learning and growing through this experience as a communications officer.”
Betker a Regina native earned her bachelor of Journalism at Ryerson University in Toronto. Betker has been covering University Athletics for nearly a decade starting as the sports editor for the Ryersonian, and later as part of the Edmonton Journal and Prince Albert Daily Herald before joining the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. During her time in Toronto Betker also found the opportunity to work at the professional sports level as part of the Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd., at the Air Canada Centre home of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and Toronto Rock.
Betker and Shishkin will work with athletes competing in athletics, archery, artistic gymnastics, basketball, diving, fencing, judo, rhythmic gymnastics, swimming, football, volleyball, soccer, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and water polo.
The Summer Universiade games will take place July 6-17, Betker and Shishkin will travel to Russia with Team Canada prior to the games in June 2013.
CLICK HERE for a complete list of the Canadian Mission Staff for both the Winter and Summer Universiade.
27th SUMMER UNIVERSIADE WEBSITE
