Week 44: Sabrina Brathwaite

Athletic Therapist

 

Please tell us a little bit about yourself. 

 

Grew up in Brampton, ON. Started playing basketball at age 7. First in a Filipino league in Brampton and in elementary school, but at that age I was playing pretty much every sport that was available. Really enjoyed playing basketball, volleyball and soccer but decided to just stick with basketball when I went to high school. Attended Cardinal Leger CSS and played varsity basketball there every year. In Grade 10 won Tier 2 ROPSSAA Championship with Leger. Graduated in 2008 and went to the University of Waterloo to study Kinesiology. Decided to play varsity basketball there as well, but I wasn’t recruited to the school so I had to try out as a walk-on. I ended up making the team and played there for 2 years.

 

Afterwards I started volunteering as a student therapist for the varsity volleyball team and kind of fell into the world of Athletic Therapy (AT). Once I graduated I decided to pursue a career in AT so I attended Sheridan College to get my degree in AT. Also played varsity basketball there all 3 years of my degree and became an academic All-Canadian, and OCAA all-star. I graduated from Sheridan and immediately started working as an Assistant AT with the Raptors 905 and I started my own Athletic Therapy Business called Athletica Elite.

 

What lesson did you learn in sport that has helped you in your career today?

 

Teamwork; you need to be able to work with others productively despite your differences both on and off the court/field.

Who is a leader you admire and why?

 

I wish I could say some big philosopher or literary writer but honestly it would be my brother and sister, because they are always honest with me and help me rationalize things. They’re not afraid to tell me whether I’m doing something stupid or cool. If something is a bad idea, they tell me, and they tell me why; if something is a good idea, they tell me, and they tell me why. I may not idolize them with posters or quotes on my wall but I value they’re honesty and opinions more than anything. I’m the youngest in my family so I really do look up to them, just don’t tell them that because it’ll go to their heads, haha.

 

What is one piece of advice would you have for young female athletes today?

 

Don’t be afraid to take a risk. Both while playing sports and in life because you never truly know what will happen until you try.

 

Instagram: @sbrathwa