Alex was first drawn to 3D printing and orthopaedic biomechanics as a student at Western University’s Robarts Research Institute. After graduating, Kopacz put his biomedical engineering career on hold to pursue a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to train with Canadian’s bobsleigh team. The bold move paid off. At the 2018 winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, Kopacz and teammate Justin Kripps took home a gold for Canada.

Combining his experience using sensorimotor training as an athlete and his background in mechanical engineering and physics, Kopacz co founded the customized orthotic company Step Sciences in 2021, along with his former lab partner, Matt Bellia. The company uses 3D technology to create a model of the foot, thereby eliminating foam mold wastage. Each orthotic includes mechanical sensorimotor stimulators, adapted for the individual wearer, to modify gait while enhancing stability and strength.