Meet Madeline Freeman of Irvine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Madeline Freeman.

Hi Madeline, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started figure skating when I was four years old, and as I grew into my teenage years, I really fell in love with ice dance. Over time, I became a U.S. Figure Skating Gold medalist and a National Solo Ice Dance Gold, Silver, and Pewter medalist.

At 15, I faced a major setback when I needed hip surgery due to an on-ice injury. I couldn’t walk for three months and went through a nine-month recovery, which was incredibly challenging, but it taught me resilience at a young age.

In 2020, during COVID after just getting back onto the ice, I was invited to try out with an ice dance partner. After being selected, I moved from Georgia to Virginia to train, and I went on to compete internationally, including at the 2022 Toyota U.S. Figure Skating Championships.

Later that year, my competitive ice dance career came to an unexpected end. In shock, I became extremely sick with reactive EBV. After months of recovery and uncertainty, I decided to take a new leap and flew to California in 2023 to audition for the Anaheim Ducks Power Players. I made the team, moved two weeks later, and that experience truly reignited my passion and sense of purpose after ending my 15-year skating career.

However, my health journey continued. After ongoing symptoms, I was hospitalized in late 2024 and in early 2025 was diagnosed with POTS and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Those diagnoses were life-changing, but I made the decision that they wouldn’t define or limit me.

Since then, I’ve used my social platforms to share my journey, raise awareness, and support others in the chronic illness community by documenting my experiences, doctor visits, and procedures.

Through everything, I’ve learned that with resilience, self-advocacy, and passion, it’s still possible to pursue what you love—and for me, that’s continuing to perform, inspire others, and be part of something bigger than myself.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but those challenges have really shaped who I am.

One of my first major obstacles was at 15, when I had to undergo hip surgery from a skating injury. I couldn’t walk for three months and had a long recovery, which was both physically and mentally tough. It was the first time I really had to fight to get back to what I loved.

Later on, after becoming an international ice dancer and competing at the U.S. Championships, my career took an unexpected turn when my partnership ended and I then became extremely sick with reactive EBV in 2022. That ultimately led to the end of my competitive ice dance career, which was incredibly difficult after dedicating 15 years to the sport.

Even after transitioning to becoming a Power Player for the Anaheim Ducks, my health challenges continued. I was dealing with ongoing symptoms that eventually led to a hospitalization in 2024, and I was later diagnosed with POTS and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in 2025. There was a real moment where I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to keep doing what I love.

But through all of that, I’ve learned how to adapt, advocate for myself, and keep pushing forward. Those struggles have made me more resilient and have given me a deeper purpose—not just to perform, but to use my experiences to connect with and support others going through similar challenges.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work is really centered around performance, storytelling, and advocacy. I come from a 15-year background in competitive figure skating, where I specialized in ice dance and developed a strong foundation in performance quality, discipline, and connecting with an audience.

Now, as a Power Player for the Anaheim Ducks, I bring that same performance background into a completely different environment—engaging with fans, creating energy in the arena, and representing the organization. I love being able to combine athleticism with entertainment and community connection.

Alongside that, I’ve built a platform where I share my journey living with chronic illnesses, specifically POTS and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. I create content that brings awareness, offers tips, and gives people a real, behind-the-scenes look at navigating health challenges while still pursuing your goals.

What I’m most proud of is being able to keep going and evolve, even when my path completely changed. Transitioning out of a 15-year skating career wasn’t easy, but I found a new way to do what I love and rediscovered my passion in a different form.

What sets me apart is that I’ve had to build resilience in a very real way. I’ve navigated both a high-level athletic career and life with chronic illness, and I’m open about that journey. I think that combination allows me to connect with people on a deeper level—I’m not just performing, I’m showing what it looks like to adapt, advocate for yourself, and continue chasing what you love even when things don’t go as planned.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is being able to live with purpose and continue doing what I love, no matter what challenges come my way. For a long time, that purpose was fully centered around competitive figure skating, but when my career ended unexpectedly and I started facing health issues, I had to redefine what that looked like.

Now, it’s about using my experiences for something bigger than just myself—whether that’s performing as a Power Player for the Anaheim Ducks, connecting with fans, or sharing my journey with chronic illness to help others feel less alone.

It matters to me because I know what it feels like to have everything change in an instant. And through that, I’ve learned that purpose isn’t tied to just one path—it’s something you can rebuild. Being able to keep showing up, inspire others, and prove that you can still live a passionate, fulfilling life despite setbacks is what drives me every day.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madellinefreeman/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@madellinefreeman