Less than two years ago he had never played wheelchair curling, yet Austin McKenzie’s progression has been so impressive that he will be Scotland’s vice skip when he makes his World Championship debut this weekend.
Along with Keith Gray, the 43-year-old from East Kilbride will be one of two debutants lining up alongside skip Hugh Nibloe, Gary Smith and Paralympic athletics gold medallist Jo Butterfield as the team event gets underway at the Auchenharvie Leisure Centre in Stevenston on March 1 and getting this opportunity so close to home only adds to the sense of occasion. 
“It feels like a huge privilege getting to represent Scotland at a home Worlds on my debut,” he said.
“Being in Scotland means it is easier for friends and family to come along and watch me so I am very excited about that.”
However, while looking to feed off that, he knows they cannot allow themselves to be distracted given the additional responsibility they carry at what is the last chance to secure an automatic qualifying spot for Paralympics GB at next year’s Paralympics in Milan-Cortina.
“For me personally this is new territory because I have not competed at this level before but it doesn’t change my goals or the team goals this week and we will be performing in front of a home crowd so that will be great for us,” said McKenzie.
“We all work hard and we know what we need to do this week, to get those qualification points for Milan Cortina and we all want to do a good job.
“Nobody comes here just to participate, we are all here because we want to compete and we all want to go all the way.”
A product of the British Curling Paralympic pathway that is beginning to generate a production line of talent, the impression the former wheelchair basketball player has made is demonstrated in the responsibility he has been given so early in his curling career.
That goes beyond the competitive arena too, as he seeks to encourage others to sample a sport he has quickly come to love.
“I came along to a Try Curling Day in October 2023 after someone from wheelchair basketball mentioned it, came along and threw my first stones in the National Curling Academy, then was invited to try out for the Paralympic Performance Foundation (PPF) programme and joined in December 2023,” he continued.
“In October 2024 I was selected to join the Scotland squad which was fab and fast forward a few months and then I was selected to represent Scotland at the Worlds.
“I hope that might inspire others to try out this pathway and give this great sport a go.
“I had no idea what to expect, but I love tactics and I love strategy and that is probably why I love this game so much.
“I am also incredibly lucky to be vice-skip for the team, which will be great experience for me and I hope very much that I can make an impact in that area.”
In that regard, he is drawing upon the example he has had in the environment created by the likes of Nibloe and Smith, who have had lengthy careers in the sport, as well as Butterfield, who made similarly rapid progress after switching sports having won Paralympic gold at the Rio Games in 2016.
“The more experienced members of the team have helped me immensely and that sums up our squad dynamics in that we all work together and lift each other up, which is probably why you have debutants like myself and Keith (Gray) in this World Championship team,” said McKenzie.
“There is also great camaraderie in the game and team dynamics and I hope my example serves as a reminder of how much can be achieved in a short space of time and it is great for any sport and squad to have new talent coming through all the time.
“So learning and progressing and getting to compete at a Worlds is a great opportunity and one I want to make the most of.
“I have already travelled to four or five different countries competing against different international teams and you learn so much from that and that has really helped accelerate my learning of shots and tactics.”
As with so many on the Paralympic programme, his story serves to illustrate the benefit of bringing a positive attitude to the most challenging of personal circumstances.
“Over the years I have been through numerous operations – from birth to the age of 16 as the umbilical cord was wrapped around my legs so when I was born my feet were pointing the wrong way,” McKenzie explained. 
“So, over the years the surgeries ranged from breaking bones, rotating, cutting muscles and ligaments to get my legs pointing the right way, but I don’t allow it to stop me from doing anything.
“If you are in a wheelchair or you have some kind of disability you might feel there are some things you cannot do, but if you have got that drive to do something you can do it and there should be no-one telling you that you can’t.
“If anyone has any doubts just go and try and challenge yourself.
“I went along to a random try curling day and threw my first two stones and fast forward a year and a half and here I am representing my country.
“It just shows that if you are willing you can achieve what you want and anyone out there can do this too.”
The World Championships get underway with the four player team event from March 1-8, which will be followed by the Mixed Doubles from March 11-16.
Please click here for results.
Watch LIVE streamed games on Curling Stadium Europe and The Curling Channel.
Feature games are as follows:
1st March - Scotland v China - 14:30
2nd March - Scotland v Japan - 09:30
3rd March - Scotland v Korea - 14:30
4th March - Scotland v England - 19:30
5th March - Scotland v Italy - 14:30
6th March - England v Korea - 14:30
7th March - Qualifier - 10:00
7th March - Semi - 18:00
8th March - Bronze - 10:00
8th March - Gold - 14:30
Scotland Team
Hugh Nibloe (skip)
Gary Smith
Austin McKenzie (vice skip)
Jo Butterfield
Keith Gray (alternate)
Scotland Mixed Doubles Team
Hugh Nibloe (skip)
Charlotte McKenna
Coaches:
Head Coach: Sheila Swan
Team Coach: Niall Ryder
For more information on our Paralympic Pathway Programme and opportunities please email: Cheryl.lappin@britishcurling.org.uk
