Madison Mailey

Biography

In her Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, Madison Mailey was a member of the women’s eight that won gold. It was Canada’s first Olympic gold in any women’s rowing event since Atlanta 1996 and the first gold in the women’s eight since Barcelona 1992.

Mailey’s first international experience was with the Canadian development team at the 2013 CanAmMex Regatta where she rowed to a bronze medal in the double sculls. The following year, she won double gold at the event, taking first place in the double sculls and quad sculls. 

Mailey rowed collegiately for Northeastern University from 2015 to 2018. She was a member of the varsity eight all four years she was a Huskie, sitting in the stroke seat for the last three years, as they finished in the top-20 at the four NCAA Championships while Mailey was in the boat. 

She joined the Canadian national team program in 2017, competing in the eight at the World Rowing U23 Championships where she would win back-to-back gold medals. After the second gold in 2018, Mailey joined the senior team for World Rowing Championships, helping the eight to come through the repechage to claim the silver medal. In 2019, she competed in her first World Cup events, winning bronze with the eight in Rotterdam. At the 2019 World Championships, she competed in the four that finished second in the B final, qualifying the boat for Canada for Tokyo 2020. 

A Little More About Madison

Getting into the Sport: Started rowing in high school, following her brother onto the team… Tried out for the junior national team after Grade 10 with the dream of rowing with the maple leaf on her blades, something that only happens at world championships and Olympic Games… Loved the idea of facing forwards but moving backwards… Outside Interests: Sings classical music as a hobby and emotional release… Received a certificate of Merit in Music Performance from the New England Conservatory while attending Northeastern University… Graduated from Northeastern in 2018, majoring in Business Management and Entrepreneurship… Enrolled in the Canadian Securities Institute with an eye on working in the investment industry after rowing… Enjoys yoga and spending time with family dog Coco… Odds and Ends: Wears a maple leaf necklace, given to her by her father, in all her international races… Favourite quote: “Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the single candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” -Buddha