Rutgers incoming freshman Florence Robitaille left the Junior Pan Pacific Championships with three finals swims and a clear stamp on Canada’s backstroke group.
The Canadian national team member raced four times over the four-day meet at the UBC Aquatic Centre in Vancouver, competing at the 2026 Junior Pan Pacific Championships as one of 40 athletes selected in her age group. Robitaille reached the finals in three of her four events, landing in one A Final and two B Finals.
Her strongest result came Wednesday in the 200 Backstroke, where she was the top Canadian in the field. Robitaille advanced to the A Final and finished sixth overall in 2:15.45.
She also reached the B Final in the 100 Backstroke and placed fourth in that race with a 1:03.43. In the 50 Backstroke, she added another B Final appearance and finished sixth in 30.32. Robitaille wrapped up the competition Thursday with the 200 IM.
Robitaille arrives at Rutgers as a four-star, top-100 recruit. Her resume already includes a Junior bronze medal at the Canadian trials in 2025, Bronze medal at the O|I in 2024 and Silver medal at the Canadian championships in 2024. She also owns the Quebec provincial age group record in the 200M Backstroke, set at age 16.
"Flo will arrive at RU with the maturity and edge that come from competing with Team Canada, pairing elite international experience with a résumé of high-level achievements in the pool and the classroom," said Rutgers head coach Jon Maccoll upon the announcement of her signing. "She trains with an Olympic mindset every day, and we believe she has the talent, discipline, and ambition to make an impact not only in college swimming, but ultimately on the world's biggest stage."
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Rutgers Keeps Following A Familiar Scheduling Trend Into The Future
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Rutgers Faces A Rivalry Debate Fans Still Havent Settled
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Maryland, Indiana, Michigan State and Penn State all come up in the conversation, and each has at least some reason to be considered. Still, the debate is part of the point, because Rutgers supporters are left weighing history, geography and recent familiarity without finding a game that clearly rises above the rest. The answer may depend on who you ask, which makes the question itself the most interesting thing left on the board. [Read more 🡒]