Like most world-class athletes, Maya MacIsaac-Jones builds her life around training.

Not that many notice, since her sport of cross-country skiing doesn’t captivate the nation’s attention like hockey does. But MacIsaac-Jones doesn’t mind toiling in obscurity.

“It’s kind of nice not having to deal with the added pressure of the whole country paying attention,” says the 16-year-old cross-country skiing phenom. “There’s a bit less pressure than I think there would be for the athletes in hockey.”

MacIsaac-Jones spends up to 25 hours a week training in the summer and could glide and skate herself into a higher profile in the near future. The Athabasca native, along with 17-year-old Matthew Saurette of Edmonton, will both take important steps toward their Olympic dreams later this month.

Read more: https://www.canada.com/sports/Alberta+cross+country+skiers+head+Austria+Youth+Olympics/5962937/story.html#ixzz1iuga4ry6