Kirill Merkulov is a PhD student in Health Promotion at Western University in Canada, where his research explores the role of belonging in sports. As a passionate athlete and current goaltender for a semi-professional ice hockey club, Kirill brings both academic insight and lived experience to his work. Having faced anxiety throughout his athletic career, he found support through sport psychology and developed practical strategies—such as posture adjustments and breath awareness—to manage focus and build confidence. Now, he is committed to conducting evidence-based research on breathwork and sharing these tools with athletes navigating similar challenges.