On the outside, Teghan Byrne looks like any other varsity athlete and on the water, she moves in perfect synchronicity with her teammates. She's all focus, grit, and determination. But when the invitation comes to join them for a night out, Byrne's answer is always the same: "I can't." Recovery comes first, or tomorrow's practice won't happen. For Byrne, it's not just discipline—it's survival.

A fourth-year athlete on the University of Victoria women's rowing team, Byrne is battling a silent adversary most can't even fathom: multiple sclerosis (MS). This unpredictable, life-altering disease targets the central nervous system—the control centre for everything from vision to movement. MS interferes with the communication between the brain and the body, causing disruptions in how information is processed and transmitted.

Early signs of a silent enemy
Byrne's athletic journey didn't begin on the water, but rather, in the water. She grew up in Newfoundland as a competitive synchronized swimmer, a standout, even representing her province at the Canada Summer Games. She was on top of the world and at the top of her sport when her body started betraying her.

It began subtly, with fatigue that felt far too heavy and headaches that evolved into crippling migraines. By the summer before ninth grade, those occasional inconveniences became a series of devastating, unexplained illnesses and injuries. Hospital beds replaced pools. Fatigue turned to complete exhaustion and during that same period, she also experienced hypoplasia of the vestibular nerve—essentially causing extreme vertigo-like symptoms and loss of balance forcing her to relearn to walk.

Doctors ran test after test but came up empty-handed. For the next several years, Byrne was locked in a cycle of medical appointments, medication, and frustration. Worse, there were murmurs—unsaid but felt—that maybe this was all in her head.

Finding rowing and finding answers
Despite the setbacks and unanswered questions, and with support and encouragement from her family, she continued to pursue sport as a way to stay grounded and active. As she moved away from synchronized swimming, she discovered rowing. She didn't enjoy it at first, but something about the sport grew on her as she continued. Its simplicity in movement and its demand for mental grit made it the perfect refuge. Unlike synchronized swimming, rowing didn't require the complex coordination her body now struggled with. Instead, it rewarded endurance, focus, and sheer willpower—traits Byrne had in spades.

For the next few years, Byrne continued to endure the same cycle of unexplained symptoms and medical uncertainty. It wasn't until one night in the emergency room when the doctor on call suggested a new medication, that something finally changed, and the migraines disappeared. This small breakthrough led her to a neurologist, who noticed early signs of MS and referred her to a specialist. After years of frustration, the puzzle pieces finally clicked into place. At 17, Byrne was diagnosed with MS.

"I was relieved to have an answer and to have a doctor say to me, your symptoms make sense and what you're feeling is real. At the same time, it's really scary and you can't comprehend what they're telling you," said Byrne. "I've always been in high performance sport and just kind of pushed through everything, so when I got the diagnosis, it didn't change my mind about wanting to continue competing, it just gave me a concrete answer as to what was going on."

But even with the diagnosis and proper treatment, the road ahead was tumultuous. A relapse in Grade 12, likely stress-induced, left Byrne with a tingling in her torso and parathesis from her right rib down. A weeklong hospital stay and a round of steroids later, Byrne found herself in a wheelchair, once again needing to regain balance and learn to walk—something doctors were unsure would be possible.

"I had to go to school in a wheelchair and rely on people to help me get to my classes, which was mortifying. I hate relying on other people and I like being independent."

Through it all, she kept rowing. Even if that meant pulling on the handle from her wheelchair, she wasn't about to let go of her sport.

From coast to coast
Moving away from Newfoundland to study at university had always been Byrne's dream. But after her diagnosis, relapse, and the new medical treatment plan that followed, her parents were understandably concerned about her leaving home.

Ultimately, her support system in Victoria—particularly an aunt who lived in the city—helped tip the scales. Byrne chose to attend UVic, knowing she'd have family close by if she needed them.

Her passion for rowing hadn't dimmed, but she faced a looming uncertainty. Could she even make the team? And more importantly, would her body handle the strain of high-performance training? With very little data on athletes with MS competing at such a level, even her doctors couldn't offer clear answers.
 

A dream realized
Byrne is now in her fourth season with the Vikes—a team that is one of, if not the best, rowing program in the country. 

As if being a student-athlete isn't demanding enough, Byrne balances it all while managing the unpredictable symptoms of MS. Every month, she takes the bus downtown for infusions, sitting for two hours at a time while the medication drips into her veins. Recovery has become her full-time job—one that never takes a day off.

In training, Byrne has the trust and support of Vikes head coach Jane Gumley. Gumley relies on Byrne to communicate when something doesn't feel right, and she's always willing to adjust the training plan when Byrne needs a break or a change in routine.

"The team is so supportive, and we have such a great team culture; Jane has been awesome. My roommate Kaliya [Javra] is one of the captains, and she knows my entire story and stays on top of things. She's driven me to the hospital, and she's always looking out for me, so I'm really grateful for that," said Byrne. 

"The entire Vikes community has been great. Having access to Doctor Martin, who knows my medical history and understands what's going on, is invaluable. We've also started the Vikes C.A.R.E.S program, which has been a big focus of mine over the last year." 

Coming full circle
Byrne, and a group of varsity athletes have been working hard to develop a community led support group called Vikes C.A.R.E.S., which stands for community, athlete, recovery, empowerment and support. The group, created by athletes for athletes is a safe space for injured or recovering athletes to share experiences and resources.
 
A kinesiology student, Byrne is working towards completing her degree and her rowing career at UVic before eventually attending medical school back in Newfoundland. She hopes to be the advocate that she didn't always have. 

Through her perseverance both on and off the water, Byrne is determined to turn her challenges into a platform of support for others, embodying the advocate she once needed.

Upcoming rowing events: 
The University of Victoria will compete in the Head and Tail of the Gorge event Oct. 25-27 on the Gorge Waterway before hosting the 2024 Canadian University Rowing Championship Nov. 2-3, at Elk Lake. 

Full schedule