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Donna Vakalis, who will begin her PhD in Civil Engineering this September, will be competing for Canada in the pentathlon competition at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.

The pentathlon – which originated in the ancient Olympics as a test of military skills – is now a test of both mental and physical agility.

Speaking to The Toronto Star, Vakalis said that the five sport competition is “… very much a mental game, but it’s also a physical game now.”

Competitors are required to swim 200 metres, run three kilometres, fence, ride a horse through a show jumping circuit and fire a laser gun at a stationary target 10 metres away.

Vakalis is one of 36 athletes who qualified for the event, which will be held on August 11 and 12.

She has been seeking donations to cover the cost of the equipment required for the event, which includes a Kevlar vest for fencing and the laser gun. So far, she has raised $12,000 towards her ultimate goal of $36,000.

You can follow Vakalis as she prepares for the Olympic Games on Twitter. You can also see recent profiles of Vakalis in The Toronto Star andThe Globe and Mail or read our interview with her here.

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