Women's XC & Track

In a remarkable debut season with the Vikes, Madelyn Eybergen established herself as one of the most dominant distance runners in the country. She captured the U SPORTS individual cross country title and was named U SPORTS Female Athlete of the Year, leading the Vikes to their first national team championship since 2001 and a Canada West team title. Her performance also earned her selection to represent Canada at the FISU World University Cross Country Championships.

She carried that momentum onto the track, setting both a UVic and U SPORTS record in the 3000 metres (9:01.64)—the fastest time in the country by six seconds and a mark that ranked her 47th in the world.

Beyond her results, Eybergen’s confidence and belief helped elevate the Vikes women’s program to its most successful season in over a decade. A Master of Science in Kinesiology student, she is committed to advancing athlete performance while also giving back as a coach with Junior Vikes Track and Field.

Men's Rowing

Giancarlo DiPompeo, a fifth-year engineering student and leader of the UVic men’s rowing team, caps his varsity career by capturing national gold in the men’s lightweight single at the Canadian University Rowing Championships. A cornerstone of the Vikes program, DiPompeo has spent the past three years shaping team culture from within—setting standards, mentoring teammates, and helping reimagine a lightweight program.

In the 2025–26 season, he delivered across an extraordinary racing load, competing in three events at both the Western and Canadian University Championships—an uncommon and demanding feat. His results speak to both versatility and resilience having won gold medals in the lightweight single at the Royal Canadian Henley Regatta, Western Canadians, and the Canadian University Rowing Championship, alongside podium finishes in multiple boats. Internationally experienced, DiPompeo has represented Canada at the U23 and FISU World University Championships, consistently bringing that elite perspective back to elevate the UVic training environment.

A proven competitor and respected leader, DiPompeo leaves a lasting legacy as one of the driving forces of the men’s rowing program.