As the countdown begins for the 2023 Uni Sport Nationals, 43 Australian universities are set to compete across 31 different sports over seven days on the Gold Coast.

Over 6,000 participants will converge on the games, to be held between September 23 to 29, with the event a fusion of individual and team competitions.

Lead coach of UOWFC Robert Gold expressed his enthusiasm for both the men’s and women’s teams.

“I’m really looking forward to the Uni nationals this year, the male and the female teams are looking really strong,” Mr Gold said.

“[We are] looking to progress from last year to finals with the hope that we try and win the competition.”

Among the universities gearing up for the event, the University of Wollongong (UOW) stands poised to make its mark.

Left-back, Lochlin Kennedy, a Bachelor of Mathematics and Finance student at UOW said that this year “the team is looking a lot stronger.”

“[We’re] definitely expecting to come away with the gold medal, [we were] close last year,” he said.

“Lost the final on pens, this year The team is looking a lot stronger and I think we’ll win comfortably.”

A diverse range of sports will take centre stage during the competition, from soccer, basketball, and hockey to swimming, and athletics.

For hockey player attacking midfielder, Clara Dobbie the Uni Games embodies the spirit of teamwork and unity.

“I’m going to Uni Games in September and I’m really looking forward to it, going away with a good bunch of girls,” Miss Dobbie said.

“Uni Games is about teamwork and team effort, and I think it’s all about participating in a really fun culture around the university.”

Uni Active Student Support Coordinator Rae-Leigh Lyons expressed her best wishes to all participants, while also emphasising Uni Active’s commitment to ensuring the safety of the participants.

“We would like to wish all of our Uni Nationals teams all the very best, for 2023 up in the Gold Coast,” Miss Lyons said.

The Uni Nationals begins on September 23.

UOW sports teams are excited to win gold at Gold Coast Uni Nationals this year. The hockey and soccer teams are pushing through the shackles building new experiences and sticking to teamwork to bring home the glory.