The cancellation of fall varsity sports due to the coronavirus pandemic, has created an opportunity for McGillAthletics.ca to profile two student-athletes every week. In our "Home & Away Series" we rotate between individuals that have elected to take online courses from their family home, and others that are doing their online studies from their on-campus residence.

Meet Abigail Thomas -- better known as "Abby" -- a 22-year-old science senior from Ottawa and member of the McGill University women's alpine ski team for the past three years. A product of West Carleton secondary school, Thomas skied two seasons for the Quebec provincial team before joining the McGill squad in 2017. Over her sophomore and junior years, she was a two-time RSEQ conference all-star who produced a combined eight podium finishes in 13 races and was voted Team MVP in 2020.
 
"It was a big letdown the way our season was stopped last year (because of the pandemic outbreak in mid-March). We got the call right before finals, while preparing to leave for the (championship) meet and were told that everything was being shut down. It was both surprising and disappointing at the same time. I was having a good season and hoping for a strong performance to move up in the standings."
 
Although the Quebec conference has not yet announced the cancellation of the 2021 winter season, the current lockdown has all but assured the inevitable and Thomas has opted to hang up her boots, move forward and focus on completing her undergraduate degree.
 
"I had a great experience over my first three years, really enjoyed them," says the 5-foot-8 kinesiology major who has maintained a cumulative grade-point average over 3.5 to qualify for the Principal's Student-athlete Honour Roll. "It was really nice to have a good work-life balance. If I was stressed with school, I could go train with the team. I honestly liked being a part of the athletics program as a break from the academics, so I could take my mind off things. It was definitely a bit of an adjustment, learning how to balance everything but I figured it out and its been pretty smooth since then. A lot of my classes were in the Currie gym, so it was really convenient for training."
 
Thomas got a taste of elite skiing as a member of the Quebec provincial team in 2016, during her final year of high school and she took a gap year away from school to maintain her status with the Quebec squad.
 
"During that time, one of my old teammates was already on the McGill ski team and she had a lot of positive things to say," recalls Thomas, who also dabbled in intramural soccer on campus. "I wanted to keep competitive skiing while at university, so it was a really good fit."
 
She currently lives in an off-campus apartment but during her freshman year, Thomas lived in residence at Molson Hall.
 
"I enjoyed that experience. It was a great way to meet people and a lot of the first year skiers on the team lived there or in a nearby (residence) building, so that was really nice."
 
Like most people, she has struggled with the COVID-19 restrictions but continues to cope.
 
"I understand why they are doing it but it's a bit of a bummer. Everyone's pretty disappointed, especially the seniors who were looking forward to our last season with the team. That's kind of gone but everyone is just trying their best to adapt to the situation. It's definitely been an adjustment but I've just been trying to get outdoors and keep active. Now that its winter, I'm trying to do a bit of cross-country skiing because a lot of the ski hills are closed right now. I'm lucky that my roommate is also in kinesiology so we can do a lot of classes and studying together. I also meet with some friends and we go out running together."
 
As her undergrad program comes to a conclusion this spring, she has initiated plans for an uncertain future.
 
"I'm applying to a couple of post-graduate programs in exercise kinesiology, both at McGill and at other schools in Ontario. Everything's still a bit up in the air but I definitely know that I want to do something health-care related. I am intrigued by that, although nothing is really set in stone yet."
 
Now that her impending graduation will soon be approaching, she reflects on her time spent in the city.
 
"I love Montreal-style bagels, it was always nice to hike up to the mile-end district to get some fresh ones. That was definitely a highlight during my time here," Thomas says. "I've enjoyed running on the mountain and seeing the view. But most of all, the ski team played a big role in my experience at McGill. It was a great way to connect and really nice to pursue a higher education without having to give up skiing. The friends I've made and my teammates have played an integral role in making my McGill experience great."
 
 
SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Info Office
McGill Athletics & Recreation
earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
(514) 398-7012