Sheridan athletic therapy grads head to Paris for Olympic games

Sheridan’s Athletic Therapy alumni are joining Canada’s Olympic team in Paris this summer, part of an essential team that works to keep athletes healthy and ready for the highest level of competition. 

The grads are part of Sheridan’s long tradition of preparing athletic therapists who help to prevent and treat injuries at every level of sport. For over 50 years, Sheridan’s program has graduated therapists who have cared for athletes at all levels – from individuals looking to maintain an active lifestyle all the way up to national and university-level teams, as well as teams in the CFL and the NBA, and dancers at the National Ballet of Canada.

As they headed for Paris, we asked three alumni to share what excites them most about helping Canadians reach the podium.

Alice Sobiesiak – Athletic Therapist, Sailing (Bachelor of Applied Health Sciences, Athletic Therapy ’20)

Sobiesiak is a certified Athletic Therapist and Registered Massage Therapist dedicated to getting patients back to their best physical selves. She is also a trained and certified First Responder through the Red Cross, with robust field and clinical experience in treating chronic and acute musculoskeletal conditions.

This summer, she joins the Canadian Sailing National team at the Olympics for the first time.

“I’m very excited to be supporting the Canadian Sailing Team at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. It is truly a dream come true to be the Athletic Therapist named to the team, and to be able to embark on this incredible experience. I hope everyone back at home – and in the Sheridan community – cheers extra loud for Team Canada!”

Schad Richea – Athletic Therapist, Men’s Volleyball (Sports Injury Management ‘ 97)

Schad Richea (far right) celebrates a win with the Men’s Volleyball team.

Certified Athletic Therapist Schad Richea will be representing Canada as a therapist with the Canadian Men's Volleyball team. His duties began in May when he joined the team at the Volleyball Canada Centre of Excellence for onboarding, training, and planning.

“I'm excited to be working the Olympic on two levels. On the professional level, the Olympics give me the opportunity to offer my skills, craft, and expertise as a Certified Athletic Therapist to our Men's National Volleyball program, on the grand stage! On a personal level, it is an honour to represent my country amongst the rest of the Canadian athletes and staff. It is truly the greatest opportunity of my career.”

“Having an opportunity to represent my country, under its flag, means that I am also representing everything that is special to me…my family, my profession and my sport.”

– Krisjon Vargas (Athletic Therapy ’08)

Surinder Budwal – Athletic Therapist, Wrestling (Sports Injury Management ’03)

Paris marks Surinder Budwal’s fifth turn at the Olympics – an incredible realization of a dream he first formed while he was a student at Sheridan: to work as an athletic therapist at the games. He first attended the Olympics in Beijing in 2008, followed by London in 2012, Rio in 2016, and Tokyo in 2020.

“It’s hard to believe that this is the fifth Olympic games that I am attending.  Just like my first, I am energized (by being) lucky enough to be going to them.”

Krisjon Vargas – Athletic Therapist, Men's Basketball (Athletic Therapy ’08) and Sam Gibbs – Director, Health Services & Performance, Men's Basketball (Sports Injury Management ’98)

Canada Basketball's Senior Men’s National Team successfully qualified for Paris as one of the top two teams from the Americas region at the FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup 2023.

The team is supported by two Sheridan grads on its roster: Krisjon Vargas and Sam Gibbs.

As an Athletic Therapist, Vargas is passionate about sports medicine and athlete care. As Director of Health Services and Performance, Gibbs is responsible for overseeing and implementing all aspects of the integrated support team, including sports medicine, nutrition, psychology, physical development, therapy, and physiology.

“Having an opportunity to represent my country, under its flag, means that I am also representing everything that is special to me…my family, my profession and my sport,” says Vargas. “There is no better way to honour our country than to serve with a common goal on the grandest of all stages.”