If he has been inspired in his sporting career and in his academic career, the Rouge et Or badminton athlete from Laval University Nathaniel Mckenzie intends to be an influence when the time comes, and to give back.
The 23-year-old badista has just started his fourth season with the Laval University club. At the same time, the bachelor in psychology has just started his four-year doctorate in the same field of study.
He doesn’t have to look far to find inspiration or understand the importance of studies. His mother, Sylvie Pinette, continued to the higher cycle. And his sister Anne-Frédérick Mckenzie, 29, is a doctor. “Everything pointed towards me going to Laval University (like his sister). My sister set guidelines for me. »
Why study psychology? It was his first philosophy course at CEGEP that was the spark.
“It opened my eyes. I started reading about philosophy and listening to podcasts. One thing led to another and I came across psychology. It attracted me there. Psychology is advanced philosophy,” says Nathaniel Mckenzie.
If he juggled between psychology and kinesiology, to follow in the footsteps of his former trainer Alex Couture, he opted for the first path, because “I could do more good”.
In connection with certain scourges (drugs and academic motivation) which affect his community of Uashat mak Mani-utenam, he feels this social duty to help. With his academic and sporting background, Nathaniel hopes to inspire other young people. At the end of his doctorate, he intends to return to the region and coach badminton.
He says he is leaning towards clinical psychology, but he remains open to other spheres. Does psychology help him in his sport?
“There is the stereotype of the psychologist, who must be able to evaluate himself, but that is different. It can help me with stress management, with breathing, but it can be learned elsewhere too. I think it helps me manage with my teammates. I have a good ability to adapt and know if my partners need encouragement, or more space,” he maintains.
Conciliation
The athlete manages to balance studies and sport very well.
Nathaniel Mckenzie, however, considers himself lucky. “The psychology professors are accommodating. »
His biggest challenge is that he also has to deal with the social involvement and research laboratories that are part of his psychology studies.
“I learned to make a framed diary. I have to make choices (for tournaments),” he maintains.
Course
As for this sporting career, Nathaniel Mckenzie has been on the badminton courts for around ten years.
Its beginnings date back to its fifth year of elementary school when Dave Vollant from the Nomades badminton club came to Johnny-Pilot school to talk about the club. “He opened it up to elementary school kids,” says Nathaniel Mckenzie.
At that time, Nathaniel was putting on the judogi, but he more or less liked it. After the first badminton practice, he told his mother that he was giving up judo.
“I loved it so much, it came for me, it was intense and I got hooked,” he recalls.
He continued in secondary school in the IESI badminton option, while continuing with the Nomades, increasing his playing volume.
He was quick to give back to his sport, providing advice to others and coaching from his third year of high school. “I still have this fiber, this ease in explaining. »
Subsequently, it was the Cégep, that of Sainte-Foy with the Dynamiques. In his second year of college, he was able to practice with the Rouge et Or of Laval University. COVID then entered the picture. The pandemic ended just as Nathaniel was starting college. Affected by COVID, he was unable to take part in the Canadian Championship in his first year, “a good disappointment”. The 23-year-old badista has just started his fourth season with the Rouge et Or.
