As a U of T Varsity Blues pentathlete, Rheanna Bulten competed in the 60m hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump, and the 800m. Beyond the track, her accomplishments were equally impressive – as she excelled in the classroom, the lab and the community.
But it wasn’t always an easy process. In her first year of undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education (KPE), she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. While she continued to train with the Varsity Blues track team, her competitions were temporarily put on hold.
It was an experience that went on to shape her experience at KPE and will continue to guide her in the future. In her final undergraduate year she competed in her first pentathlon, and in the future she plans to become an occupational therapist.
She describes her experience at KPE and her hopes for the future.
Why did you choose KPE?
I knew that I wanted to study kinesiology as my undergraduate degree because I had been a track and field athlete throughout high school and had been competing since the tenth grade. I wanted to come to U of T because the track team is so strong. I chose kinesiology as an extension to my athletic background and because I’m interested in human movement.
What was it like to be a Varsity Blues athlete?
It was a lot of fun! Our team is split into event groups so I had different coaches for each event in the pentathlon. It’s great to do sprint hurdles with one coach and then high jump with another coach – each coach is a specialist in a specific area. I got to know everyone on the team and grew to appreciate how challenging each event is. My coaches, Carl Georgevski, Bob Westman, Brett Georgevski, Deniece Bell and Katelyn Andrews were so supportive and I’d like to thank them for their dedication.
What was your first university race like?
My first pentathlon was last December and it was nerve-racking. It was at the College at Brockport in New York State and I hadn’t competed in a long time – the whole event felt big and loud, but it was amazing! Usually, we warm up for about an hour and then compete between four to six hours. During the year, I raced in seven track meets and finished my season by placing fifth at the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championships.
What do you plan to do in the future?
I was recently accepted into the two-year Master’s of Occupational Therapy program at U of T, which is a rehabilitation program. I chose U of T’s program because it offers students a lot of options in terms of placements. Staying at U of T will also allow me to continue competing with the Varsity Blues.
How did you become interested in this area?
Occupational therapy involves much more than physical recovery, and that really appeals to me. The field includes psycho-social factors and mental health, and you can work with everything from pediatric to geriatric populations. For example, after a stroke, an occupational therapist might teach you how to drive safely or how to interact with family again.
When I went through difficulties with my autoimmune disease, I really missed sport and doing the activities that I love. I want to help people with daily activities and getting back to what they love to do.
What types of research did you conduct at KPE?
I’ve had a wide breadth of research experience. In my third year I studied sport and autoimmune disease with Professor Michael Atkinson. I also worked with Professor Greg Wells to implement a health and wellness program for students and staff at the University of Toronto Schools. I recently finished an independent study on heat shock proteins with Professor Marius Locke, and I’ve just started working with Professor John Cairney to study exercise in pediatric populations.
What advice would you give to future students?
I would tell students to have fun and take advantage of everything that’s available to them at U of T. The campus houses the largest library system in Canada, and there are so many opportunities to join intramural teams or campus clubs – whatever you want to do, you can do it here. I also think it’s important to get involved outside of the university and learn about Toronto and the community. I volunteered at Toronto Western Hospital and a local soup kitchen and that gave me a lot of perspective. I really believe in giving back and paying it forward – so many people helped me out and it really enhances your university experience if you get involved!