Katie is a fourth year student in the interdisciplinary stream. She recently returned from the U23 World Rowing Championship in Račice, Czech Republic, where she raced in the Women’s Quadruple Sculls and placed 11th. “This regatta was a learning experience for our crew, as we had not been on a start line in 18 months due to the pandemic. Leaving this regatta, we are eager to train hard to improve on this result.” After she graduates in Fall 2021, Katie hopes to train full-time with the Canadian National Rowing Team and represent Canada at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Katie is on the varsity rowing team at UBC and coaches with the community rowing program run by UBC Athletics and Recreation. “When I came to UBC, the varsity rowing team immediately provided me with a surrogate family. I am beyond grateful for the teammates that I have become so close with over the last four years. Honestly, I couldn’t have done it without them.”
When asked what drew her to KIN, Katie says “Sports have been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. I knew that I wanted to study sport and exercise after high school. Between UBC KIN’s fantastic interdisciplinary degree program and exemplary varsity rowing program, I knew that this was where I wanted to attend university. I am immensely appreciative of the interdisciplinary nature in KIN. Because of it, I was exposed to Sport Sociology, which is something that I didn’t know existed but have become really passionate about.”
Katie says, “the most important thing that I have learned while in KIN is the need for balance in my life. Even when I have a busy week full of assignments and midterms, I have found that it is important to make time to move and make sure that I sleep enough.” Some of Katie’s favourite classes include KIN 460 (Aging and Society) with Dr. Laura Hurd, KIN 464 (Health Promotion and Physical Activity) with Dr. Andrea Bundon, and KIN 103 (Active Health) with Dr. Maria Gallo. Katie says “I grew up with my mom living with a mobility disability, and because of her I have been exposed to para-sport for my whole childhood” and she would love to complete a research-based Masters of Kinesiology, looking into sport inclusion policies, after she is finished pursuing sport.
