Student-athletes competing in the Olympics in Paris this summer face the monumental challenge of training for their sport while also attending college classes.
The university sends many students to compete representing the United States and other countries, but it requires collaboration between coaches and exceptional dedication and time management from students to achieve their athletic dreams while earning their degrees.
Student-athletes may receive some leniency from professors, but otherwise there is little special treatment for athletes competing in the Olympics, coaches and prospects at the Paris Games told The Hill.
“It definitely adds complexity,” Fred Richard, a University of Michigan junior who visited Minneapolis this week with hopes of qualifying for the U.S. men’s gymnastics team, said when asked about juggling school and training.
“But I have a really strong support team around me – my family, my coaches, the training staff, my teammates, career management, social media production – so together we make it all run pretty smoothly,” added Richard, who is majoring in business administration.
Dozens of student athletes will head to Paris this summer to compete in a variety of events, from swimming to rowing, at the Games, which run from July 26 to Aug. 11. The athletes are at various stages of their academic careers, with some just starting their university studies and others just getting their diplomas in hand.
“It wasn’t easy, I struggled with time management and had a lot of sleepless nights,” said Kaitlyn Abeln, a recent Ohio State University graduate who will compete on the women’s air and sport pistol team in Paris. “Yeah, I had to travel for matches and practice with my professors and classmates. It wasn’t easy, but of course, making the Olympic team isn’t easy either, so I was pretty adamant about continuing my studies while making the Olympic team. I didn’t want to put anything off.”
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced that more than 1,000 former, current and future student-athletes from over 100 countries participated in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, winning approximately 282 medals. The 2016 Rio Olympics featured 1,018 current and former NCAA members, including 168 current students competing in 15 sports.
Professors work around the athletes’ schedules and participation in competitions, giving them some leeway in their classes, but Olympic athletes don’t typically receive any additional special privileges.
“There’s really not a huge difference between the programs we have for our student-athletes and the programs we have for students who want to be Olympians,” said Bill Dorenkott, director of men’s and women’s swimming and diving at Ohio State. “At Ohio State, we’re fortunate to have a lot of kids who dream of representing their country, so we design our programs for our student-athletes.”
Although the training and practices for athletes vary greatly, the academic requirements remain largely the same.
“They have very specific training where they do specialized training with the kids to prove they have the athletic ability to compete at the next level. Academically, they have the same requirements in the classroom,” said Ronnie Green, director of cross country and track and field at the University of Kentucky.
Once an athlete is selected for the Olympic team, the coach will be tasked with balancing the athlete’s training, academic achievement and liaison with the national team.
“And when it comes to international competition, we have to have a good working relationship with that federation, so the coaches in that country, the federation and our staff have to work together to put our student-athletes in the best possible position to be successful. Some countries are more friendly when it comes to working together and some are not, but we have established a pretty good reputation both domestically and internationally for developing kids,” Dorenkott said.
The support doesn’t end within the campus boundaries, as some coaches travel to games with their players to support them on their journey.
Emil Milev, head coach of the Ohio State University pistol team, said he plans to go to Paris “to support the team through practices and matches.”
“I mean, it’s nerve wracking, but I really want them to be successful and I really want them to do well, but it’s all in their hands,” Milev said. “It’s an honor and it’s my first time on that stage as a coach, so I’ll be really excited no matter what the outcome is.”
