Maxim on Ice: Skating Without Limits 

Maxim Gravel, a 14-year-old girl living in Saguenay (QC), is already an athlete with remarkable discipline. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at three and half years old, she has not let her cystic fibrosis stop her from living her dreams. Inspired by her older sister, Maxim found her passion for figure skating – a sport that she has been practicing for the past 12 years.  

After numerous pulmonary infections and pneumonias as a toddler, doctors referred Maxim to the pediatrics department, where she was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. With no family history of CF, it was a shock to her family. Maxim’s childhood was marked by frequent hospital visits and consultations with specialists, but her family’s constant support helped her through it all and to live without limits.  

Today, she competes as an athlete identified at the Prospect level and part of Team Quebec in ice dancing. As part of her school’s student-athlete program, she balances academics with her daily figure skating training and organizes her schedule to ensure that her health remains a priority. Her health routine includes the use of a compressor, saline treatments, and inhalers – all respiratory therapies that help her stay strong. For Maxim, skating is more than a sport – it’s a therapeutic way for her to stay balanced. Outside of the rink, she enjoys spending her free time doing nautical sports in the summer or winter sports when the snow lands.  

Maxim’s biggest wish is to stay focused on herself and continue growing as an athlete in the dance category of figure skating. She knows it is essential to remain in good physical health to continue to perform at an elite level, something she approaches with discipline and determination. She prioritizes her health, which not only fuels her ability to excel on the ice but also helps to reduce the impact that CF has on her respiratory system.  

Marie-Eve, Maxim’s mom, believes that even with cystic fibrosis, “every day should be lived like it’s a win”. She’s proud of her daughter’s independence and says that by staying prepared and avoiding risks to Maxim’s health, their family is able to face any challenge coming their way. More than anything, Marie-Eve wishes her daughter could simply feel like any other kid. All she wishes for is that Maxim continues to excel in both her health and figure skating – and that research into cystic fibrosis keeps moving forward.  

Maxim’s passion is what keeps her focused and moving forward. It gives her the drive to keep evolving as a figure skater with CF.