Talk about a ring-side seat.
Make that an Olympic ring-side seat.Or, better yet, an Olympic rink-side seat.When the Winter Games kick off in Vancouver Friday Feb. 12, North York physiotherapists Cathy Striowski and Agnes Makowski will be rink-side in case they have to treat figure skaters who injure themselves failing to pull off a perfect triple salchow or who take a nasty spill on the ice. "I'm so excited," said Striowski, who works at North York General Hospital and also treats patients with Makowski in a private practice at a nearby medical building at 1333 Sheppard Ave. east of Leslie Street.She and Makowski have spent years volunteering as physiotherapists with Canada's national figure skating team.While serving as part of the host medical team at the Olympics, they will care for figure skaters from any nation who need treatment, although some countries bring along their own medical experts.Makowski left for Vancouver on Tuesday, while Striowski left Thursday and will take in the opening ceremonies Friday before beginning her first physiotherapy shift on Saturday.They will be monitoring skaters on the practice and competition rinks and manning the Olympic physiotherapy clinic.While many people have told Striowski they hope to catch a glimpse of her on the TV during the Games, she points out that the only way she will appear on television is if she is responding to an injured athlete.Needless to say, she is hoping for a quiet couple of weeks. "We want to be like the Maytag repairman. The less we have to do, the better," said the North York resident, who lives near Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue.All members of Canada's figure skating team are heading into the Games in top physical health, Striowski added."They are like race horses. You don't want anything to interfere with their potential," she said, adding she has treated many skating injuries over the years from a concussion to a fractured ankle.But hoping that her professional services won't be required doesn't dampen Striowski's obvious enthusiasm for attending the Olympics."I'm very excited. This is the pinnacle, right, of an athlete's career. I've worked with these kids for 10 years. I've seen them through their growing up stage," said Striowski, a 58-year-old married mother of two grown children. "It's very nice to watch them perform at the pinnacle of their career. It is also (the pinnacle) for the medical team. It's a wonderful opportunity."Striowski and Makowski were among a handful of 30,000 applicants selected to volunteer for the Olympics. An endorsement from the national figure skating team was an obvious boost to their applications.Striowski's husband, Paul, wasn't as lucky."My husband applied and never heard back. He's an accountant," she laughed, adding her family is proud and supportive of her job at the Olympics.On one of the two days off she has during the Games, Striowski is going to watch the short track speed skating competition. On her other day, she will visit downtown Vancouver, where she has travelled several times, and hopefully take in some medal ceremonies.As she counted down the days before heading west, Striowski said she could hardly contain her anticipation."We're really ramping up our excitement," she said."I've been to the world (figure skating) championships. This is so different. This is a whole different level, as high as it goes."