GUELPH, Ont. – Throughout the 2020 fall semester, the University of Guelph Department of Athletics will be highlighting various members from our Gryphon varsity teams as part of our "BioSteel Student-Athlete Spotlight." This week's edition features
Misaki Ojiro, a second-year student-athlete on the Gryphon figure skating team who majors in nutrition and nutraceutical sciences.
IN THE CLASSROOM & THE COMMUNITY
After growing up in Tokyo, Misaki Ojiro's family moved from Japan to New York when she was 15 years old. Shortly after that, the family made yet another move, this time to Vancouver, after her father received a second job transfer.
While finishing high school in Vancouver, Misaki applied to several Canadian universities, including UBC, Ryerson and Carleton, before ultimately choosing the University of Guelph based off of her interest in U of G's science programs as well as her desire to compete in figure skating at the varsity level with the Gryphon varsity figure skating team. By early 2018, her family had returned to Japan while Misaki stayed in Canada and prepared for her move from Vancouver to Guelph. During her first year as a Gryphon student-athlete in 2019-20, Misaki successfully juggled her academic and athletic requirements, while also holding down a pair of part-time jobs.
Outside of her shifts at a local Japanese restaurant in Guelph (the Hungry Ninja on Wyndham St.), Misaki led online teaching for Japanese children ages 7-to-9, where she teaches English. With the children learning remotely from Japan, Misaki's online teaching lessons usually began around midnight eastern time, resulting in a short turnaround time before the early morning practices of the Gryphon varsity figure skating team. Despite the busy schedule, Misaki has excelled both on the ice as well as in the classroom, where she majors in nutritional and nutraceutical sciences with the goal of one day becoming a dietician.
ATHLETICS:
From the moment that Misaki Ojiro first set foot onto the ice at the Gryphon Centre Arena in September of 2019, it was clear that the Tokyo native already possessed the type of skill set required to compete with the very best student-athletes from across the province. In mid-February, Misaki did just that, earning a spot on the podium as a rookie at the 2020 OUA Figure Skating Championships, hosted by Ryerson University.
Misaki Ojiro (left) - bronze medalist at 2020 OUA Figure Skating Championships
At just 19-years-old, Ojiro took home an OUA bronze medal thanks to her standout performance in the novice women's short program. That medal helped propel the Gryphon figure skating team to a 4th-place finish in a field of nine universities at the 2020 OUA Figure Skating Championships.
For Misaki, who turned 20 years old in June, figure skating has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember, with the Tokyo native having skated competitively since age six. Growing up in Japan, Ojiro was invited to attend training camps each summer organized by the Japan Skating Federation. There, she received "seed privilege" which allowed her to compete at the national level on three separate occasions, with Misaki earning a pair of Top 10 finishes with 3rd-place and 7th-place finishes in Japan's novice category.
"Misaki had an amazing rookie season as a Gryphon," says
Janet Gibson, head coach of the Gryphon varsity figure skating team. "She is a fierce competitor and her combination of strength and beauty on the ice makes her a strong contender in any competition she enters. She made the Gryphon figure skating team very proud during her first year at U of G.
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