It’s Madeline Schizas’s final few months as an undergrad, and she will finally experience residence life.
But she won’t be staying on McMaster’s campus or making an IKEA run before move-in: The 22-year-old figure skater is spending most of February at the Milano Olympic & Paralympic Village as a returning member of Team Canada.
Schizas is Canada’s sole women’s figure skating singles entry at the Olympic Winter 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 last month. Two days later, she was back at Mac and hanging out in her student house.
“Back to reality,” says Schizas.
A different experience
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.
Back home, COVID-19 had also shuttered campus residences 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 in Milton, 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.
‘Her biggest superfans’
Schizas wanted a friend group beyond the world of skating, and being at university has helped make it happen: 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.
From left: Emma Wren, Annika Stratton, Madeline Schizas, Jenna Coulter and Shayla McKeown at the nationals in January.
Coulter, along with Shayla McKeown, Annika Stratton and Emma Wren, made the trek to Gatineau, Que., in January to watch Schizas compete at the nationals and earn her spot at the Winter Olympics.
Coulter arrived at the arena with homemade posters and a cowbell. The group 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.”
“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.”
McKeown started to tear up at the end of Schizas’ free skate. “She gave a beautiful performance and I think we could all feel that she was likely going to the Olympics after that skate,” she says.
“It’s a very emotional experience to see your friend reach a goal she has worked so hard to achieve.”
In addition to a pre-Olympics party for Schizas before she flies to Italy, Coulter and McKeown are travelling to Italy during Reading Week to cheer on their friend in person. The others will be ready to watch a borrowed TV any time she’s on the ice.
“We’ve definitely become her biggest superfans,” Coulter says.
In the daysbefore the official start of the games on Feb. 6, Schizas was pushing her time management, planning and logistics skills to the limit. Included on her to-do list was collecting pins to trade with other athletes.
“It’s all doable,” says Schizas. “You just have to do it.”