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This Young Man Racks Up the Numbers in Badminton and Mathematics

January 7, 2011


The world of Philippe Charron revolves around mathematics and the sport of badminton.

A player of the highest level, the 21-year-old was Quebec University Rookie of the Year, League MVP, Quebec Conference First-Team All-Star, and a gold medalist in international badminton men’s doubles and mixed doubles events.

Now a star on the "Université de Montréal Carabins Badminton Team," Charron is on the competitive road to getting his Ph.D. in mathematics. To what end? "To develop science and theories and mathematical processes," he said.

In 2008, Charron garnered the highest score in a provincial contest sponsored by the MAA. The same year, he came in tenth in an international contest of logic and mathematics, in Paris.

Last year, he competed in badminton events in six countries in five months, while also participating in mathematics competitions.

In addition to going to classes, he trains about 20 hours per week.

"It's challenging, yes, but I like competition. It allows me to experience amazing things, to discover other cultures," said Charron, at the International Challenge in Guatemala last August. "Armed guards escorted us around the city. Even in the gym, they watched over us. Machine gun on the knees, they watched us play. I had never seen anything like that. It was funny," he claimed.

In 2010, the University of Montreal named him "Outstanding Student" in the Department of Arts and Sciences.

With his sights on the London Olympics in 2012, Charron indicated, "I'd like to qualify for it with my partner, Florence Lavoie, for the mixed and Piéric Langlais-Gagné for the double, but...it's expensive, between $20,000 and $25,000 for each us. I'll try to get a paid internship in research at the university that would allow me to raise money. And afterwards we'll see," said the budding mathematician.

Source: Canoe Sports (December 27, 2010)


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1025
Start Date: 
Friday, January 7, 2011