Arts & Science Graduate Shines at Rio Summer Olympics

Artsci alum Donna Vakalis (’03), currently a PhD candidate in environmental engineering, was one of only two athletes nominated to represent Team Canada in modern pentathlon at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, where she finished 33^rd.

Her fourth-place finish at the 2015 Pan American Games gave her a spot on the team for the second time (she also competed in the 2012 Olympics in London).

Modern pentathlon is an exciting sport that requires athletes to execute skill and athleticism in five very different disciplines: fencing (one-touch épée bouts against all other competitors), swimming (200m freestyle), equestrian jumping, and  the combined running-shooting event (laser pistol shooting, followed by an 800m run, repeated four times).

Read more about Donna by visiting  http://olympic.ca/team-canada/donna-marie-vakalis/ and http://pentathloncanada.ca/competitions/rio-2016/.

(Photo: pentathloncanada.ca)