Varsity Blues swimmer Colin Russell was named Pioneer Petroleums Ontario University Athletics (OUA) male athlete of the week for the period ending February 7, 2010. Western's Hayley Nell was this week's female recipient. 

2008 Olympian Colin Russell broke four OUA records and swam his way to five gold medals in leading the Varsity Blues men’s swimming team to their seventh consecutive conference title this weekend in St. Catharines, Ont.

Named the 2010 male swimmer of the meet, Russell first set a new OUA standard in the men's 200m freestyle with a time of 1:47.23. The fifth-year arts and science major went on to win the 100m freestyle in a record time of 49.17 seconds. He set his third individual OUA record on day four in the men’s 50m breaststroke, claiming gold in a time of 28.42.

The Burlington, Ont. native also anchored the record-breaking men's 4x100m medley relay team of Cam Cummings, Stevan Kalaba, and Zack Chetrat, setting a new OUA standard of 3:44.81.

Russell claimed his fifth gold medal in the fourth-day event, winning the 50m freestyle race on Sunday in a time of 22.94.