EUSA Insider:
Tyler McKenna
Age: 21
Place of Birth: Manchester, England
University: Manchester Metropolitan University (GBR)
Published: 27 February 2018
Briefly describe how and why did you get involved in Karate?
I was obsessed with Jackie Chan films and TV shows when I was little so when I was old enough I joined the karate club at the leisure centre near me.
"Having a team of like minded sports
people from Great Britain really made the time
spent in Coimbra entertaining"
What do you study? How do you balance your study, trainings and competitions?
I study Biomedical Sciences. Balancing everything can be tricky sometimes, especially with research when labs are only open at certain times of day. Being in 3rd year now everything is getting quite full on!
Tell us about your experience of the European Universities Championships 2017. Is this your first time at an EUSA event?
This was my first time at an EUSA event, it was a very interesting and unique experience. Having a team of like minded sports people from Great Britain really made the time spent in Coimbra entertaining as well as helping with training. Everyone was so friendly and helpful, even with little things like warming up on competition day and getting food.
"a world class sporting experience
whilst they are studying"
In 2018 the European Universities Games 2018 will take place in Coimbra, Portugal, do you hope to be there? Why do you think university sport events are important?
Sadly karate has not been a chosen event for coimbra 2018. I think university sport events give people the opportunity to have a world class sporting experience whilst they are studying which often can be hard to achieve.
This is your chance! What is your message to European students like yourself?
Take every opportunity to compete at university while you can. You’ll make friends, do the sport you love at the same time and potentially find new training partners in your own and other countries.
EUSA would like to thank Tyler for participating in Coimbra last year at the championships, we wish him all the best in the final months of his studies and we hope to see him again at an EUSA competition in the future.
