An Olympian from downtown Toronto has once again regained the national pentathlon title for Canada.
And to do it, Donna Vakalis, who lives near the University of Toronto where she is a member of three varsity teams, had to beat out fellow 2012 London Olympic team member Melanie McCann who had claimed the title the three previous years (2013, 2012, 2011).
Vakalis, meanwhile, earned the silver medal the previous two years (2013, 2012), was "present, but really sick during 2011 nationals" and won the national championship in both 2010 and 2009.
Vakalis now moves on to the senior world championships being hosted by Poland, Sept. 1 to 9.
"I am trying to read up on the history of Poland right now, and I am really getting excited to spend an entire week there," she said, in an email interview.
She’s also gunning to compete in a rare hometown competition next summer.
"My goal is to earn a berth on the Pan Am team, and then to be in top form when Toronto hosts the (2015 Pan Am/ Parapan Am) Games," she said.
After that, although she said she’s been "taking it one year at a time", she gives the impression that gunning for another Olympic Games in 2016 in Brazil would be tough to pass up.
"I love training and competing so much that, even though school is my top priority right now, I find myself unable to give up the joys that come with being a high performance athlete...Also, I learn more from being an athlete and a student at the same time."
The academic side also takes up a lot of her energy.
"I am in civil engineering, finishing up the second year of my PhD in environmental engineering," she said, explaining it delves into "energy use and air quality inside buildings."
The sport of modern pentathlon involves five disciplines: equestrian, fencing, swimming and combined running/shooting.
While they all contribute to a well rounded athlete – the bill for training for each of the five disciplines also adds up in a hurry, and any support or sponsorship is appreciated, acknowledged Vakalis who has lived in the downtown area for more than a decade.
For more information or to support her ongoing Olympic career, visit http://thisisdonna.com/world