For most students, university is a personal journey. For Taylor and Lauren Wilcox, it’s also been a shared one.
The identical twins enrolled in the same program at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education (KPE), competed together on the Varsity Blues women’s lacrosse team, experienced the same devastating injury and emerged with the same goal: to become physiotherapists who help others heal, perform and thrive.
From early childhood, sport shaped the Wilcox twins' identities. Growing up in a household where physical activity was part of daily life, both sisters developed an appreciation for how sport builds resilience, fosters community and supports mental and physical health.
“Kinesiology gave me the opportunity to merge my interest in physical and social sciences with my passion for promoting a healthy and fulfilling life through sport,” says Taylor. “My early fascination about how our bodies function grew into a drive to understand the science of movement.”
Lauren’s motivation was similarly rooted in her experiences as a female athlete. “Navigating male-dominated sport spaces and advocating for gender equality became important to me early on,” she says. “Studying at KPE allowed me to combine my love for athletics with my passion for social change and health equity.”
Both women embraced every opportunity the Faculty had to offer. Taylor served as a student physical therapist for the Varsity men’s lacrosse and swim teams while also conducting research on sex differences in exercise metabolism in the Exercise Physiology Lab. Lauren worked as a clinical research assistant at the University Health Network and collaborated with Dr. Michael Hutchison on concussion research, presenting at national conferences such as the Canadian Concussion Network’s annual meeting.
“It was incredible to present my work on the tandem gait test and see how our findings could contribute to improving concussion management,” Lauren says.
Outside the classroom, the sisters were just as active. Together, they served as co-directors of events for the Women in Sport Club, where they led initiatives that supported female-identifying athletes. They also represented the lacrosse team on the Varsity Board, helping to create events that support our athletes in balancing their academic demands such as “grind and dines” where athletes studied together with pizza, aimed to enhance the student-athlete experience.
But their most challenging—and ultimately transformative—shared experience came in the form of injury. In 2023, Lauren tore her ACL while playing lacrosse and underwent reconstructive surgery. Seven months later, Taylor suffered the same injury on the field. Their simultaneous rehab journeys and successful return to lacrosse for the 2024 season tested their perseverance and cemented their commitment to careers in physiotherapy.
“Going through recovery together, supporting each other day in and day out, reminded me of the power of connection and the importance of a positive mindset in healing,” says Lauren. “That experience really affirmed why I want to work in rehabilitation.”
“Physiotherapy gave us back our strength—both physically and mentally,” adds Taylor. “The satisfaction of helping others achieve a pain-free, active life is exactly what I want to dedicate my future to.”
Both sisters credit KPE not just for its academic rigours, but for the hands-on, real-world experiences that helped them grow personally and professionally. Taylor recalls presenting her research at the Bertha Rosenstadt National Undergraduate Research Conference as a highlight of her academic journey, and both women name the 2024 OUA Championship Weekend— where the Varsity Blues lacrosse team won an OUA bronze medal—as one of their proudest athletic memories.
“The energy in the stadium, playing some of our best lacrosse with friends and family cheering us on—it was unforgettable,” Lauren says. “That weekend showed how far we’d come, and how strong we are as a team and as sisters.”
Now preparing for graduate studies in physical therapy with the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, the Wilcox twins are ready to take the next step. They’re leaving KPE with more than just degrees—they’re carrying forward the lessons of leadership, resilience and service that defined their time with the Faculty.
“If you’re considering U of T, know this: you’ll get an outstanding education, but you’ll also find a community that supports your growth,” says Taylor. “My sister and I lived that experience together—and we couldn’t be more grateful.”