“I want people to see that I'm someone who cares, someone who wants to help the next kid coming up...” The Inspiring Story of Professional Bob-sleigher Kenny M’Pindou

Standing in front of a classroom full of students isn't something Kenny M'Pindou ever thought he’d do.

Growing up with a stutter, speaking in front of others often felt intimidating. There were moments where simply introducing himself, or answering a question required more courage than most people around him realized. Yet today, M'Pindou willingly places himself in those situations, visiting schools throughout Edmonton with a message he hopes inspires.

"Giving back and doing things in the community has become something I genuinely want to do, especially opening up about having a stutter and sharing my story," M'Pindou said. "I wanted to connect more with people who've faced the same challenges as me, and find ways to make things easier for them, to make that path a little more free. That's why I started my nonprofit, so I'd have a real way to help others and reach different communities along the way."

For M'Pindou, a member of Canada’s national bobsleigh program, conversing with the next generation has become just as rewarding as any athletic accomplishment he’s achieved. While many athletes define success through medals, championships, or national recognition, M'Pindou measures it differently. Every opportunity to encourage a young person has become part of his larger purpose.

Before finding his place as a bobsledder, M’Pindou’s athletic future looked uncertain.

For as long as he could remember, soccer had been a passion for M’Pindou. So in 2020 when he was given the chance to travel to Portugal for a professional trial, he was hoping his pro soccer dreams would soon be realized. But as COVID-19 cases began rising across Europe, his opportunity came to an abrupt end, forcing him back home to Edmonton.

"I couldn't stay [in Portugal] because COVID cases started climbing again, so I came back home to Edmonton and kept training," he said. "But between not being able to find a team and the leagues taking a pause, I lost the fire a bit. I didn't know if I wanted to keep going or what my next step even was, so I took a year off from sports just to figure out what was next for me."

What was next for M’Pindou ended up being something he barely knew about.

Bobsleigh!

At first, he brushed off the idea. But the more he learned about the sport, the more he realized his speed could translate to the ice. The challenge wasn't whether he was athletic enough, but rather, it was transforming his body into one capable of producing the strength and power elite bobsleigh demands.

"I'd always been fast, and I knew I could get stronger, so that became the focus, building the size and strength the sport needed," he said. "That's how I got into it."

And his investment in the sport paid off.

M'Pindou joined Canada's national bobsleigh program in 2022 before earning his first opportunity to represent Team Canada the following season, a milestone that completely reshaped the direction of his athletic career.

"I've been with the national bobsleigh program ever since," he said. "It's an honour every time, especially when people find out you're part of Team Canada. You can see it on their face, they light up and want to hear the journey behind it, and that's always something special."

The belief that he could reach that stage didn't develop overnight. One of the defining moments in M’Pindou’s journey came while watching his cousin pursue his lifelong dream of reaching the NFL. Witnessing someone transform years of ambition into reality left a lasting impression on him.

"The biggest moment for me goes back to when my cousin was in the NFL draft," M'Pindou said. "Watching his path unfold showed me how powerful it is to have a vision and actually speak it into existence. That day it hit me: whatever we say we're going to do, we have to go after it."

That same mindset now guides everything he does away from the track. Whether he's speaking in classrooms, mentoring youth or volunteering throughout the community, M'Pindou hopes every interaction leaves young people with one message.

"Everybody's got something, but kindness costs nothing," he said. “Everybody is dealing with something every single day, whether it's visible or not, and the easiest way to make things easier for someone is just to be kind. Smile at them, say hi, offer a hand if you can."

His commitment to giving back is rooted in the support he has received throughout his own journey.

"I've been backed by this city and these people from day one," he said. "That kind of support helps you grow and build as a person, to the point where you just want to do more, and by more I mean more good. It's shown me the value of showing up, of being a mentor and using whatever platform you have to help others."

For M'Pindou, that responsibility extends to every athlete. He believes the greatest impact isn't made through statistics, or podium finishes, but through the willingness to be authentic and give back.

"I think for athletes, it's about taking advantage of who you are as a person and your story, and using that to help others who might be facing the same kind of challenges," he said. "Share your story, because you never know who you could help, and you never know who's looking up to you."

When M'Pindou reflects on what he hopes people remember years from now, his answer has little to do with competing at the highest level, or pursuing an Olympic dream.

"What I want people to remember about Kenny M’Pindou is that he showed up," he said. "He showed up even when he wasn't perfect, even when he was scared or nervous. He showed up for his community, he showed up for his people, and he did it in a way that was authentic and genuine. I want people to see that I'm someone who cares, someone who wants to help the next kid coming up.
"Honestly, when I think about it, I think back to little Kenny, and what he would have wanted from someone now. That's what I'm trying to build. That's what I want people to remember me by."

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