Skiing was Mick Leahy’s main focus as a flex student at Edge, but it was the science of exercise that captured his attention several years after graduation.
Science was the last thing Mick (class of 2010) was interested in as a student at Edge. However, after taking a break after high school – including a year to compete in ski racing and another to teach English in Thailand and coach – Mick’s love of sport drew him back to Edge where Director of Athlete Performance, Ross McCain, invited him to volunteer as a student coach to explore the world of sports science. Shortly after, he began his undergrad in Kinesiology at Acadia University, specializing in exercise physiology. Mick graduated from Acadia with his BKin in 2016. In 2019, he earned his MSc in Kinesiology at the University of British Columbia during which he studied the effects of chlorinated air induced bronchoconstriction in swimmers. He is now pursuing a PhD in pulmonary physiology at UBC.
Mick reflects fondly on his memories of Edge, and as ski racer appreciated strength conditioning within Edge School’s high performance training facility (the Duckett Performance Centre), regular access to physio at the sport therapy clinic – spent many times a week during ski season – and the dedication of Edge teachers that helped him excel in his classes. Mick found himself frequently benefiting from study hall when ski competitions required that he travel for weeks, or months, at a time.
Now, 10 years post-grad, Mick is back in the gym and recognizes the unparalleled training facility at the DPC, and that sport has helped him excel academically. In addition to his doctoral studies, Mick now teaches exercise physiology to undergrads and is a strength coach and physiologist for several UBC athletes and Olympic hopefuls.