Student returning to Winter Olympics while roommates cheer her on back at Mac

Madeline Schizas will finally experience residence life during her last year as a science undergrad.

But she won’t be staying on campus or making an IKEA run before moving in. Instead, Schizas will fly to Italy and spend February at the Milano Olympic & Paralympic Village as a returning member of Team Canada. The 22-year-old figure skater is Canada’s sole women’s singles entry at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games.

Like a residence at Mac, the village will be full of people to meet from around the world. “I can’t wait. I was only 18 when I competed in Beijing. I’m four years older, less shy and more outgoing.”

Schizas earned her spot by winning her fourth women’s single’s title at the Canadian Figure Skating Championships in Gatineau, Quebec on Jan. 11. Two days later, she was hanging out in her student house.

“Back to reality,” says Schizas.

She made her Olympic debut at Beijing 2022, finishing second in the women’s short program and free skate portions of the competition. While she stayed in the Olympic Village, COVID-19 restrictions put a serious damper on dorm life, kept her parents home and left her competing in an empty venue. COVID-19 had also shuttered residences back home during her first year at university.

While she lost out on staying in residence, Schizas says she’s had an outstanding university experience. Even with six-day-a-week practices at the Milton Skating Club, Schizas was determined to earn a degree and graduate with her peers.

“It’s a good thing I’m pretty disciplined.”

University has proven to be an invaluable distraction. “If I was only skating, that’s all that I’d think about 24 hours a day. I knew I needed another outlet. Going to class, turning in assignments and studying keeps me busy and grounded.”

Schizas competed in last year’s nationals while carrying a full course load – this year, she has just two courses remaining in her Environment & Society degree.

Going to university while training and competing was also important because Schizas  wanted a friend group beyond the world of skating. She’s found great friends in her roommates who say Schizas is just like any other Mac student, although she’s covered their fridge with an impressive collection of magnets from every city where she’s competed.

“We hang out in the living room most nights, talk about everything, sometimes watch skating competitions and even give our opinions on Maddie’s costumes,” says Jenna Coulter.

Coulter, Shayla McKeown, Annika Stratton and Emma Wren made the trek to Gatineau to watch Schizas compete at the national championships and earn her spot at the Winter Olympics. They joined a large and loud cheering section with Schizas’ parents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

“It was incredibly emotional,” says Coulter. “I had tears in my eyes after her free skate. She’s not just my roommate – she’s one of my closest friends. So being there to watch her achieve something so huge was really special.”

Coulter arrived at the arena with homemade posters and a cowbell. “The energy in the rink was unreal and it was so cool to add to that. Watching Maddie on TV is amazing but being there in person, feeling the excitement and nerves in the arena, was on a completely different level.”

“I started to tear up at the end of her free skate,” says McKeown. “She gave a beautiful performance and I think we could all feel that she was likely going to the Olympics after that skate. It’s a very emotional experience to see your friend reach a goal she has worked so hard to achieve.”

They’re planning to throw a party for Schizas before she leaves for Italy.  And they’ll be watching when their roommate competes on the world stage. McKeown and Coulter have already marked the dates in their calendars when Schizas’s competing. “Even if Maddie skates at 3 a.m., we’ll be up,” says Coulter. “We borrowed a TV from our friend so I’m sure we’ll all be gathered around it cheering her on. We’ve definitely become her biggest superfans.”

With just days left before the start of the games, Schizas is pushing her time management, planning and logistics skills to the limit. Included on her to-do list is collecting pins to trade with other athletes. Time permitting, she’ll hoping to make doggy-themed pins starring her cocker spaniel Sebastian.

“It’s all doable,” says Schizas. “You just have to do it.”

Schizas is scheduled to compete on Feb 6, 8, 17, & 19.