Christina Kouvousis (BKin 2017) is a Sport Development Coordinator at Water Polo West and coaches for the Provincial Training Centre and Team BC programs. She is a certified Competitive Coach and previously trained as a Learning Facilitator and Coach Evaluator to teach coaching courses.
Since her youth, Christina aspired to work in physiotherapy and study kinesiology in university. She began her academic journey at San Jose State University, where she completed her first year as a scholarship student-athlete for the NCAA Division 1 Women’s Water Polo team. After sustaining injuries from playing water polo, she transferred to the UBC School of Kinesiology to finish her degree. However, that did not stop her from getting involved in the sport. Moving back to her hometown, Vancouver, led her to her first coaching opportunity at the Vancouver Vipers Water Polo Club. Coaching water polo players, in addition to her experience as a student-athlete, shifted her career pursuits to “coaching science, athlete wellbeing, and mental health in sport.”
When asked about her most memorable moments at UBC, Christina mentions going to varsity sporting events and celebrating graduation with her KIN peers. She names Dr. Mark Beauchamp and Dr. Erica Bennett as academic inspirations who have made a positive impact on her UBC experience. “I completed a Directed Studies research project in Dr. Beauchamp’s lab and learned so much from the experience and his support,” reveals Christina. “Now an Assistant Professor, Dr. Bennett was one of my Teaching Assistants and has supported me both in the classroom and throughout my career thus far.” Her time at UBC was nothing short of a worthwhile experience. Not only did she learn about the numerous career possibilities a UBC degree can offer, but that these paths are pursued by “people who care deeply about their areas of work or study.” Studying kinesiology encouraged her to grow her coaching career by “exploring critical areas that impact sport and athletes” and applying “communication, critical thinking, research, and leadership skills” to her daily work.
In 2019, Christina was honoured by the Vancouver City Council as a Community Sport Champion “for her gender equity efforts in water polo.” Some of her career highlights also include participating in the 2019 Water Polo Canada Summit as a gender equity panelist and speaking on “power and abuse in sport” at the 2021 Stories of Resilience Virtual Conference. Her primary interests include “mental health, safe sport/prevention of athlete maltreatment and abuse, gender equity in sport, and coach development.” She wishes to enroll in graduate school and become a university head coach. Her long-term goals combine her passions for coaching and mental health, hoping to “work as a therapist to help people overcome mental health challenges, and continue working with athletes and coaches on mental health.”
Christina’s tips for current KIN students: Wherever you are, no matter what role you are in, always bring your best and treat those around you with respect and compassion. Don’t waste a moment comparing your journey to that of someone else. “You do not have to be an ‘important person’ to do important things.” No matter your platform/experience/status, you can always contribute value and inspire others.
