Education a Virtue for figure skating champion

WINDSOR, Ont. — Two years ago in Vancouver, Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir combined balance with precision, style, and grace to capture the gold medal in ice dancing at the Winter Olympic Games.

As this dynamic duo prepares for the ISU world championships next month in Nice, France, Virtue finds her balance away from the ice rink within a completely different arena. A classroom at the University of Windsor.

Pursuing a degree in psychology, Virtue, 22, has been attending the school since 2007.

“I’m slowly making my way through my program,� Virtue said. “I’m about halfway through my degree.�

As passionate about schooling as she is about skating, Virtue finds that attending classes provides her life with a sense of normalcy amid the ongoing demands of a career as a world-class figure skater.

“School for me has always been a really great balance with the skating,� the London, Ont.-born Virtue said. “Its nice for me to have a focus, kind of an outlet outside of the rink.

“It’s nice to socialize with some normal students, and kind of separate from my skating life with academics.�

She does her best to fit as much class time as she can into her busy calendar, carrying anywhere from one to three courses per semester, taking late afternoon and evening classes to fit them in around training sessions, optimizing her down time from skating competitions in the warmer months to dive into her studies.

“I love being on campus, and I love being in the classroom physically,� Virtue said. “I just love being part of the classroom discussions with other students.�

Education blossoms in the Virtue family tree. Her grandfather Joe Wiese attended Assumption University in the 1950s, and her great-grandfather was Dr. Ted Wiese, a dentist whose practice was in Belle River, Ont.

“In my family, education was always important,� said Virtue. “I knew without doubt that I would try and continue my education as I was skating.�

It hasn’t been easy, and it certainly isn’t the traditional format for earning a degree, but talk schooling with Virtue for any length of time, and it’s clear a degree means as much to her as the gold medal that dangled from her neck in Vancouver.

“I think that’s one thing that a lot of athletes are forced to give up,� she said of a standard education. “Scott and I haven’t had normal lives. We haven’t had a normal school experience. I wasn’t able to move away from home, live in residence and go to school full-time.

“I’ve missed out on that opportunity, but I think this is a way to keep one foot in the door, and give a semblance of normalcy.�

She gives a lot of the credit to the Windsor faculty, which has permitted Virtue flexibility around her skating schedule in terms of completing assignments and taking exams.

“The University of Windsor has been so accommodating, and really supportive throughout this whole process,� she said.

On a typical day, Virtue awakes around 5:30 a.m., heads to the rink for a two-hour morning session, following by another two hours on the ice in the afternoon. Next, depending on the day, are off-ice workouts, physiotherapy, massage, and studying.

Hit the ice, hit the books, and when time permits, hit the hay.

“I’m good at running off not very many hours of sleep, but it’s obviously a priority in an athlete’s life,� Virtue said. “We have to recover and rest. It’s all about time management, blocking a few hours a day off for studying.

“I’ve definitely learned throughout the years how to manage my time. I prioritize. I tend to be a bit of a perfectionist — I’m sure most athletes are — and that just doesn’t stay on the ice. Unfortunately, that transcends into my schooling. It keeps me busy.

“I have to remind myself sometimes to just calm down and take some moments to relax.�

Other than our hockey players, Canadians tend to compartmentalize our Olympians, taking them out for public scrutiny every four years, so perhaps it’s not surprising that Virtue’s been able to fly under the radar at school.

“I’m hardly every recognized on campus, which I think is great,� she said.

“It’s nice just to sit in the classroom and feel free to participate in class without feeling like people know who I am. I guess I can look much different when I’m off the ice.

“Sometimes, when I’m not right beside Scott, people don’t put it together.�

Steadily but surely, Virtue is putting together a post-secondary education for herself, and she’s enjoying every minute of her time in Windsor.

“I really love it. I love to learn,� Virtue said. “I’m really enjoying my program. When you enjoy what you’re reading and studying, it makes a big difference.

“Psychology has been great for me. It’s been really beneficial not just in my everyday life, but also on the ice. I think it’s been a great avenue to pursue.

“I’m on the long-track progress, but it’s important to me, and I’m looking forward to graduate studies.�

Windsor Star

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