Athlete of the week: Kristyn Kurio

Program: Medicine and Dentistry 4
Hometown: Lethbridge, AB
Team: Golf

What got you started in golf?

I’d say my parents. Both of them golf, and so I started when I was four years old. And I’ve been golfing ever since.

Do you remember your first set of clubs?

I don’t know if I remember exactly the clubs, but I do remember going out to golf as a family. The four of us would go out in the evenings and play nine holes, and (my brother and I would) get a cookie as well.

When did you start competing?

I played on the high school golf team, and then in my undergraduate education in Calgary I played for one year on the U of C team. And then I continued throughout all four years of medical school. So this is my fifth year of playing at the university level and I played for four years in high school.

What challenges come with balancing medical school and golf?

Trying to make it to practices has become harder and harder with my schedule. With starting my clerkship, which is like a practicum, it’s kind of got unpredictable hours. But the coach understands that education comes first and that we try to make it (to practice) as much as we can.

What’s the difference between playing at the university level and everything else you’ve ever played?

I’d say it’s more competitive than high school was. And you get to travel; last weekend we were in Victoria for the Western Canada Golf Championship.

What’s it like to play in a lesser-publicized team sport?

It’s never really mattered to me if people know I play a varsity sport, or that golf even is a varsity sport. I guess it’s kind of a conversation topic. A lot of people don’t know we have a golf team and want to know how it works.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen on the green?

I’ve seen snakes on the golf course, little garter skates. Down in Lethbridge there’s rattlesnakes, which I’ve never seen but I know that some of the courses down there you have to watch out for them.

What have you taken away from the team experience at the U of A?

I think the team is a lot of fun, and everyone’s really nice, and we get along really well. I’d say that it’s a group of students who are quite academic, and even though they’re athletes they do quite well on average. It’s good, it’s a way to meet other people.