A key piece of the vision at Queens University of Charlotte is to "provide new perspectives and cultural experiences for the campus community and beyond," and this past summer, the Royals watched eight student-athletes and one coach travel globally to compete at the highest levels of international competition for their home countries and university. These Royals spanned three countries, including Germany, Singapore, and Chile, to compete at the FISU World University Games, World Aquatics Championships, and International Basketball Federation (FIBA). 

 

"Watching our student-athletes and coaches perform on the world stage was an inspiring reminder of Queens' commitment to excellence," said Queens Director of Athletics Cherie Swarthout. "Their accomplishments bring pride not only to our university and athletic department, but also to the Charlotte community and the international stage. Queens is deeply proud to be a place where talent, character, and leadership thrive." 

 

Four Royals, including Leo Colimerio, Magda Freire, Sabina Kupcova, and Ondrej Dusa, traveled to Germany for the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 Summer World University Games. The event featured 18 sports and recognized thousands of university-level athletes from around the world, making it one of the largest and most competitive multi-sport events. 

 

Former Queens men's basketball player Leo Colimerio represented his home country of Brazil and took home the gold medal following a remarkable comeback victory. Trailing Team USA by 20 points heading into the fourth quarter, the Brazilians caught fire and forced overtime, where they took down the Americans, 94-88. Colimerio graduated this past May after one season in the Queen City, but made a lasting impact by earning two National Player of the Week awards, Second Team All-ASUN honors, and leading the Royals to their first ASUN Tournament Semifinals appearance. 

 

"Playing in the FISU World University Games meant a lot for me because it was my first time being selected to be on the Brazil National Team, and it was one of my dreams to accomplish that," said Colimerio. "I am forever grateful for Coach Leonard for believing in me and giving me the platform to succeed at that level. Without Queens, I would not have been afforded the opportunity." 

 

Also, on the hardwood in Germany, Queens women's basketball standout Ana Barreto helped Team Portugal to a 3-3 record and a sixth place finish out of 16 teams. The senior guard averaged 10.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 0.8 assists, and 1.0 steals per game across six appearances. Against Chile, Barreto dropped a game-high 22 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the perimeter while adding seven rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Barreto returns to the Royals for her final campaign this upcoming season after finishing third on the team in scoring and second in steals a season ago. 

 

"It's always been an incredible honor to wear Portugal's jersey and represent my country on the international stage," said Barreto. "Competing against top teams from around the world challenged me and helped me grow as a player. I'm especially proud to have shared this journey with such a dedicated group—my teammates, who I can truly call my best friends and family. I'm excited to carry that spirit and experience into my senior season at Queens." 

 

In the water, Queens swimmers Sabina Kupcova and Ondrej Dusa represented Team Slovakia at the FISU World University Games. Kupcova, a senior standout, placed 11th in the 4x100m medley relay and 4x100m freestyle relay. Dusa, the brother of teammate Matej Dusa, turned in a second-place finish in the 50m freestyle preliminary with a time of 24.24. 

 

Across the world, in Singapore, Queens associate head coach Elliot Ptasnik led four Royals at the World Aquatics Championships, while also serving as a coach for Team Slovakia. Former Queens standout and two-time ASUN champion, Matej Dusa, competed in the 50m and 100m freestyle for Team Slovakia. Fellow Royal Daniel Meszaros, a three-time ASUN finalist and CSCAA National Invitational Championship finalist, helped Team Hungary capture the 4x100m freestyle relay while also placing fifth in the mixed 4x100m medley relay. Liana Planz, a senior from Texas, swam for Team American-Samoa and competed in the preliminary races for the 50m freestyle and 100m butterfly. 

"As a coach, it's a tremendous honor to lead Queens swimmers on the world stage," said Coach Ptasnik. "Seeing Matej, Daniel, and Liana compete alongside the best in the world in Singapore — while also balancing roles with their respective national teams — shows the depth of talent and the heart of our program. They represent Queens, the ASUN, and their countries with maturity and discipline, and we couldn't be prouder of how they carried themselves in and out of the water. There's a lot to learn from long travel, a 12-hour time difference, and competing against the best swimmers in the world. These experiences stretch you — mentally, physically, and emotionally — and our swimmers embraced that challenge head-on. That growth will carry far beyond the pool." 

 

Back on the hardwood in Chile, Queens women's basketball standout Magda Freire helped Portugal to a 4-3 record and an appearance in the Quarterfinals at FIBA. Team Portugal went 2-1 in the group stage, with victories over China and Nigeria, before defeating Israel 83-80 in the Round of 16. Freire appeared in all seven games and averaged 6.3 points, the fourth most on the team, while adding 3.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. 

 

The 2025-26 season marks a historic milestone for Queens Athletics as the Royals are eligible for Division 1 NCAA postseason play. The NCAA granted Queens University of Charlotte full membership a year early, allowing the Royals to compete for national championships this season. Queens Athletics has a storied history of success spanning 35 years as the Royals have captured 28 team national championships, 144 individual national titles, and 105 conference tournament championships. 

 

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