Many people dream of becoming an Olympian, but few actually expect it to happen. Such was the outlook of Varsity Blues track and field athlete Gabriela Stafford when she joined the high school group of the U of T Track Club in grade 10. Not only was she an average runner, in her own words, but she also suffered from racing anxiety so intense that she would often lose her lunch on the starting line while waiting for the gun to fire. Fast forward six years, Stafford is an Olympian. How did this transformation happen?
Speaking at the Varsity Blues Achievement Awards on January 18, the fourth-year psychology student explained the transformation was physical, but more importantly mental and emotional, as her belief in what she was capable of doing grew.
“Throughout each lesson, and each challenge that I have faced in my time here, I have never been alone. I had my teammates and my coaches, the family that I chose, supporting me each step of the way.”
The Awards celebrate academic merit and athletic talent, and Stafford thanked her coaches Terry Radchenko, Ross Risstuccia and Carl Georgeski, as well as every one of her teammates, for their guidance and help in striking the balance.
She also thanked the scholarship donors, who supported her journey to becoming an Olympian.
“You have given me the privilege to focus solely on my studies and sport. You are the reason that I could focus intensely on my running, a focus that allowed me to drop my 1500m time by 30-seconds in only 4 years to run Olympic standard.
“Thank you for this gift. Thank you for the past six years, and thank you for the years you will give me, my sister (Lucia Stafford), who is now a Varsity Blues rookie, and every Varsity Blues athlete in the future.”
Som Seif was a member of the Varsity Blues water polo team while studying engineering at U of T. Now a successful chartered financial analyst and founder of Purpose Investments Inc., Seif continues to be an active member of the U of T community, recognized with an Arbor Award for his volunteer contributions.
Seif spoke about his fond memories of being a Varsity Blue and the profound impact that experience had on his personal and professional development.
“Many people ask about my career success and I tell them so much of who I am comes from having the opportunity of being a student athlete. The thrill of winning games, as well as the lessons in losing, were the culmination of an incredible team effort supported by coaches, staff and teammates.
“But, they were also the result of the efforts of one other group – the alumni, who understood the importance of a student athlete experience. As an alumnus, I feel compelled to do my part now to benefit the next generation of Varsity Blues,” said Seif, who spoke on behalf of the donors.
Professor Ira Jacobs, dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, thanked the donors for their ongoing and growing support and expressed his excitement over the Varsity Blues accomplishments in the last year, which included almost a dozen KPE and Varsity Blues students and alumni successfully competing in the Summer Olympic Games in Rio.
“I am very proud that our university provides a framework within which student athletes can achieve both academic and athletic excellence. It is an honour to acknowledge the importance of the Varsity Blues Achievement Awards because we celebrate hard work and talent not only in the classroom, but also on the field of play.”
Executive Director of Athletics and Co-Curricular Physical Activity, Beth Ali said she looks forward to the event each year.
“Having some of our top student athletes share the room with many of our programs’ strongest supporters and closest friends is a wonderful way to showcase just how vital these connections are in fostering excellence at U of T.”
Ali thanked the donors for their financial assistance, but even more so for their faith.
“By giving to our programs, you are making it clear that you believe in our athletes, teams and coaches. They can push their limits and find inspiration knowing that they have the support of many generous people – and that makes a difference in every game, every practice and every single win.”
It certainly made a difference in Stafford’s transformation from anxious runner to national champion and Olympian.