Profile

Michael is 20 years old and competes in the Olympic sport of Canoe/Kayak Slalom, a dynamic sport where athletes race down whitewater rapids through a series of slalom gates. Michael began kayaking over a decade ago at the young age of eight through a week long summer camp. Since then, he has gone on to win 5 Junior National Titles, achieve a Bronze Medal from the 2010 Oceania Open, as well as attaining the best ever Men’s Kayak result by a Canadian at the Junior World Championships in 2010 (13th place).

He began the transition into the senior category in 2011 by earning a spot on the National B Team and winning the 2011 National Championships later that year. Michael erupted on to the National A team in April 2012 where he won the highly contested battle for Canada’s only Olympic kayak spot.

Outside of his athletic achievements, Michael is a second year student at Carleton University where he studies a mix of political science, law, and history. While at school he is also an active member of the fraternity, Tau Kappa Epsilon – Tau Omega Chapter, volunteering his time in the local community and within the fraternity as the Athletics Chair. Michael also finds the time to teach kid’s kayaking lessons for his local club, the Ottawa River Runners, and has been a slalom coach for many of the cadet, junior and other young senior athletes.

Michael plans on building on past successes leading up to London 2012 and through the World Cup season. With many seasons ahead of him, Michael will be a prominent figure in the Canoe/Kayak world for years to come.