Articles by Nicole Spadotto

Know Your Athlete: Marty the Martlet

McGill is known for fostering success stories in academia and athletics alike and, proof that birds of a feather flock together, Marty the Martlet is no exception. Marty is just like most McGill students: He juggles the rigour of school with having fun and a full-time job—one that isdesigned to entertain us loyal McGill sports fans. But Marty wasn’t always a silly goose; he used to chicken out every time he was in the spotlight.

The Williams sisters: From practice partners to tennis royalty

Venus and Serena Williams’ ascent to stardom has transcended sports and moved into the forefront of popular culture. Serena recent appearance in Beyonce’s music video for “Sorry” demonstrates the extent to which the sisters have penetrated all facets of American society. While their supremacy is undisputed, it’s the sisters’ humble roots, hours of relentless practice, and their father–a man who wouldn’t stop pushing his daughters to greatness–that go largely unnoticed. In a form of poetic justice, their sibling rivalry transcended childhood practice to one of the most prolific tournaments in the world.

Quidditch teams at McGill are more than just flightless brooms

The McGill Quidditch Club was created in 2008, becoming the first muggle Quidditch team in Canada and the only co-ed team at McGill. The sport has grown significantly since coming to McGill and competition to get on the team has increased along with the popularity of the sport. A second team, Canada’s Finest Quidditch Club, followed in 2012 due to high student interest in the sport.

McGill Gym

The Sport Authority EP. 5: Life as a club athlete at McGill

[audiotrack title=”The Sport Authority Ep. 5: Life as a club athlete at McGill” songwriter=”Mayaz Alam and Nicole Spadotto” date=”March 26, 2016″ width=”700″ height=”200″ src=”https://24f2041bb5b609d25f1a97039f71682cc9154421.googledrive.com/host/0B9rQxTeDv2duM0FmSjBSYkZFS1k/mcgill%20athletics.mp3″ autoplay=”on”] There are many athletes at McGill. Some are varsity athletes that represent the university, others are recreational athletes who play a sport to stay in[Read More…]

Rooney rule

Behind the Bench: Rooney Rule Ramifications for Female Representation

Diversity and minority visibility in professional athletics has recently made international headlines, with the inauguration of new professional women’s sport leagues, such as the WNHL, the MLB implementing programs to increase female and minority job candidates, and new awards like the British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards recognizing the diversity of[Read More…]

rowers rowing in boats

Rowing: Mind and body unite

“Rowing is a very psychologically demanding sport,” McGill rower Kylie Shorter said emphatically, as if she knows that most people have the opposite perception of rowing.  She went on to explain that many members of the McGill rowing team never rowed prior to their McGill experience, and that training is[Read More…]

10 Things: Cross-Country Skiing

Cross-country skiing has a bit of an obscure beginning, but experts agree the sport is quite ancient. It is believed to have originated in what is now France as a method of hunting over 22,000 years ago. In present-day China, it is used as transportation. By the time cross-country skiing[Read More…]