Maria Gallo

Dr. Maria Eugenia Gallo, born on September 21, 1977, is a distinguished Canadian rugby union player and coach, renowned for her exceptional contributions to the sport. With a remarkable career spanning over a decade, Gallo earned fifty-five caps while representing Canada in the Women's Rugby World Cups of 2002 and 2006. Her prowess on the field has solidified her reputation as one of North America's top ten women rugby union players, earning her the affectionate nickname 'the Tank'.

Gallo's athletic journey began in Ontario, where she played a pivotal role in her team's national championship victories from 1997 to 2000. She further honed her skills at the University of Guelph and the University of Alberta, where she was recognized as the Guelph University Female Athlete of the Year in 1998 and received OUA All-Star awards in both 1997 and 1998. Her academic achievements include a doctorate in muscle physiology and biochemistry from the University of Alberta.

In addition to her rugby career, Gallo was a member of Canada's National Bobsleigh Team for two years, showcasing her versatility as an athlete. From 1999 to 2010, she served as vice-captain of the Canadian Women's Senior 15's National Team and later captained the Women's National 7's Team from 2008 to 2010, leading them to their first Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2009.

Since 2015, Gallo has transitioned into coaching, currently serving on the coaching staff for the UBC Thunderbirds women's rugby team. Her dedication to the sport extends to her role as a Pathway coach for the National 15's and 7's programs. In recognition of her outstanding contributions, she was inducted into the Rugby Canada Hall of Fame in 2018, becoming the second woman to receive this honor, and was also inducted into the Ontario Rugby Hall of Fame the same year.

After completing her post-doctoral research in blood doping at UBC, Gallo now shares her expertise as an instructor at the School of Kinesiology, continuing to inspire the next generation of athletes.