Stepping stone to the international stage
Five athletes from the German Olympic team in Paris took part in the FISU World University Games in Chengdu in 2023 and ten in the FISU Games in Naples in 2019. Benjamin Schenk, Secretary General of the German University Sports Federation (adh), emphasises the importance of this multi-sport event for the development of top student-athletes.
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‘The support of aspiring young athletes is the central focus of the German delegations competing at the FISU World University Games. The athletes can get a taste of the Olympics in a highly professional setting and with strong international competition. They gain a wide range of experiences that strengthen their personal and athletic development.’
It is not surprising that many medallists at the Olympic Games or World Championships have previously celebrated success at the FISU Games. Some of the best-known athletes who were members of the national student team include Sarah Köhler, Kim Bui, Karla Borger, Andreas Hofmann, Fabian Hambüchen and Christian Reitz.
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Like the Olympic Games, only for students
Sport shooter Anna Janßen, a student of landscape design at Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences, is one of the hopefuls in Paris who took part in the 2023 FISU Games in Chengdu. ‘Being nominated for the Olympics is a big dream come true for me. Looking back, the FISU Games in Chengdu have been a major highlight of my sporting career so far. In terms of the level of performance and the organisation, they were like the Olympic Games, only for students. The experience I gained at the FISU Games will definitely help me for the Games in Paris.’
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A booster for the dual career
In less than a year, the international student sports elite will be competing for medals at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games in Germany. In addition, numerous representatives of the international network for the promotion of dual careers of top student athletes will be in attendance.
‘The FISU Games will provide a unique opportunity for public discussion, transfer of experience and knowledge and improved visibility of network partners, projects, research results and examples of good practice in the field of study and elite sport in Germany,’ says Prof. Dr André Schneider, member of the adh working group ‘Study and Elite Sport’, looking ahead to the event.