The Paris 2024 Olympics are a source of inspiration for many athletes, some of whom are students or alumni! From 26 July to 11 August, France will be hosting the Olympic Games. Over 571 athletes and 51 substitutes will compete in 32 sports and 45 disciplines, for the first time in history.
And for many athletes, it’s an opportunity to showcase their training and the programmes that support them throughout the year. While they prepare to excel on the world stage, some are juggling academic requirements in less professional disciplines. Here’s a non-exhaustive round-up of these champions of sport and studies!
Balancing Sport and Education
The life of an Olympic athlete is full of challenges. And finding a balance between intense training and studying can be tough. Many athletes have very busy schedules. They include daily training sessions, international competitions and recovery periods. And all the while maintaining their academic performance.
Athletes often have to demonstrate rigorous discipline and exceptional organisation. Pole-vault champion Renaud Lavillenie, for example, continued his studies at Blaise Pascal University in Clermont-Ferrand. Similarly, Mélina Robert-Michon, a discus thrower, studied at the University of Lyon 1. And there are many more like her.
The sacrifices are many. They sometimes have to miss classes to take part in important competitions. Then they have to make up the academic work during their rest periods. The support of institutions, teachers and classmates is often crucial to their success. Schools and universities offer tailored courses to enable sportspeople to flourish at all levels.
Educational institutions and top-level athletes
Schools and universities play a vital role by offering flexible programmes and personalised support for athletes. Many AlumnForce partners include Olympic athletes in their ranks. Here are just a few examples:
Romain Cannone: French fencer, epee specialist, gold medallist at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and alumni of Neoma and SKEMA
Sara Balzer: French sabre fencer, winner of several medals in international competitions and alumni of the University of Strasbourg
Maxime Pauty: French fencer specialising in foil, medallist at the European and World Championships, and alumni of the Léonard de Vinci Management School
Antoine Dupont: French rugby player, captain of the national team, known for his exceptional performances as scrum-half, and alumni of Toulouse School of Management
Jean Quiquampoix: French sports shooter, speed pistol specialist, Olympic champion at the Tokyo 2020 Games, and alumni of Aix Marseille University
Auriana Lazraq-Khlass: French athlete specialising in the heptathlon, winner of several medals in international competitions, and student at the University of Montpellier.
Lisa Barbelin: French archer, European archery champion, renowned for her international performances, and a student at Sorbonne University
Highlighting its student athletes and alumi
Many members of the AlumnForce community reserve an important place for top-level sport. For example, the Pôle Léonard de Vinci has a group dedicated to top sportsmen and women on their AlumnForce platform.
Some create partnerships with well-known brands, such as the Universities of Paris Dauphine and Paris Cité with Le Coq Sportif.
Others publish their members’ stories on their website (Sorbonne University) or social networks. This helps to support them and, above all, to showcase the institution that has been able to support its students and alumni.
We hope you enjoy the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. A special mention to all our partner networks who are hiring students and alumni for the occasion!
