Sarah Levy, a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) student at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) in San Marcos, CA, is a prime example of passion and perseverance. As Levy prepares to represent the USA Rugby team in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, she reflects on her path, balancing academic rigor with the demands of elite sports.
Levy has found a unique synergy between her athletic goals and academic ambitions, which has enriched both aspects of her life. “Rugby expands my physical therapy knowledge and access to resources. The world is my classroom,” she asserts.
Exploring a Dual Path
Levy’s interest in rugby began during college. “I fell in love with rugby at Northeastern University,” she says. There, she also started to gravitate towards a healthcare career, though she was not sure which field to pursue. The Northeastern co-op program, including a pivotal internship, helped steer her toward physical therapy (PT).
“I started to meet people in PT and appreciated how certain movements can help you on the field,” Levy explains.
This realization cemented her desire to advance in rugby and attend PT school. After completing her undergraduate studies, Levy worked as a PT aide at a clinic in New York and gained valuable experience.
Around the same time, she was selected for the USA Rugby team. She explains how USA Rugby includes fifteens (15s) and sevens (7s) teams. 15s rugby, the traditional style with 15 players on each side, was more remote and less intensive. Levy’s involvement with the 7s program, which is faster-paced and more demanding, began when around the time she applied to USAHS.
Returning Home for Diverse Pursuits
“Everything brought me back to SoCal,” she says, reflecting on her decision to choose USAHS for its proximity to home and the flexibility to pursue her academic and athletic goals. Levy started the Flex DPT program at USAHS in 2020, which coincided with her entry into the Olympic 7s program.
She describes 7s rugby as “half the amount of people, so much space on the field – everyone fast and strong, with a ton of endurance. It’s considered the more exciting version – players score within 2-3 minutes; it’s a fun and flashy game.” The demands of 7s rugby require her to train full-time at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, with gym sessions, rugby practices and speed training four days a week.
Fulfilling her training and studies has been challenging, especially as she gets invited to more tours.
“Luckily, I have professors who are very understanding and support me. They allow me to come in on weekdays to see the material and get the hands-on experience I miss when traveling,” Levy recalls.
To manage her workload during this Olympic year, she opted for a half courseload, leading her to excel academically and athletically. “My rugby playing skyrocketed after that,” she shares.
Chasing Excellence: Training, Travel and Mental Fortitude
Levy’s typical training week includes intense physical preparation and strategic planning. “We have Wednesdays off to focus on recovery, study and catch up for the week,” she says.
The rugby season runs from December through May, with international tours in metropolises like Dubai, Cape Town, Sydney and Hong Kong. This extensive travel, while enriching, also means being “on at all times,” she clarifies.
Mental and emotional preparation is equally crucial to perform at the highest level. Levy acknowledges the challenges of letting go of the competitive mindset, even when exhausted from training. “It’s hard to turn off sometimes – you get back from training so tired it’s sometimes tough to focus on schoolwork,” she says. The high-stakes environment of constant evaluation adds another layer of stress, especially during the tour selection period.
Despite these challenges, Levy finds equilibrium and fulfillment in her dual pursuits. “Usually, people with multiple aspirations like to be extremely successful at all of them at all times,” she notes.
Her advice to aspiring athletes is to recognize the ebb and flow and avoid spreading oneself too thin.
“It’s worth it to pursue both things – if I’m not doing well at rugby, I can focus on acing an exam or vice versa. It’s nice to have something else going for me.”
Levy recalls a decisive moment a year ago when she was about to start her first clinical rotation and felt uncertain about her rugby future. She decided to give it her all and dedicated herself to rigorous training and nutrition. “After those three months, I got my contract extended and was invited to my first tour in a year or so. I’ve made every tour since then,” she proudly states.
Traveling the world for rugby has been one of the highlights of Levy’s career. “Sydney is one of my favorite destinations – beautiful beaches,” she says. Experiencing different cultures has broadened her perspective, with Singapore standing out for its extreme heat and being her first East Asian setting.
Pairing Education with Elite Athletics
Levy credits USAHS for significantly impacting her success. “In the Flex program, it feels like when you’re not in the classroom, you’re still linked,” she explains. The DPT program’s flexibility allows her to integrate her learning with her rugby training.
She often works alongside athletic trainers and PTs to expand her practical knowledge.
After every rugby game, she returns to USAHS to learn something new about the human body. Working with it all day, she becomes finely attuned to the mechanics of every joint and effective strengthening exercises for pain management.
She says she’s on track to graduate on time and is building knowledge for her future occupation. “My team’s athletic trainer quizzes me during breaks from school,” Levy elaborates, “When injuries arise, I challenge myself to self-diagnose and then consult our athletic trainer for confirmation and guidance.”
Looking ahead, Levy remains open to various career paths within physical therapy. Whether working with athletes, veterans or in subacute care, she feels confident she is pursuing her passion.
“I’m happy with whatever direction I take with PT – I know I’m in the right field,” she concludes.
As Levy heads to Paris for the Olympics, she exemplifies grit and shows that, with support and determination, one can achieve greatness in multiple arenas.
Check out a recent NBC Olympics article featuring Sarah Levy. Follow Levy and her team’s rugby journey at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics.
