Two World Championship medals and a degree in psychology? For Roos Vanotterdijk, that's not some headline-grabbing stunt, it’s just her everyday reality. As the first Belgian swimmer ever to return from the World Championships with two medals, she’s making history. And at the same time, she’s working on her university degree at the VUB. Thanks to a personalised study track, Roos keeps growing — in the pool and on campus. And she's not the only one.
Elite Sport and Study at the VUB
Since the start of the Elite Sport and Study programme, the VUB has supported 991 top-level athletes across no fewer than 61 different sports. From day one, the focus has been clear: academic success comes first. And that approach works. With an average study success rate of 87% — over 7% higher than the general VUB student population — our elite athletes prove that ambition in sport and study can go hand in hand. The right support makes all the difference.
At the VUB, 114 elite athletes are currently pursuing a degree — from basketball to medicine. The Elite Sport and Study service provides them with personal guidance, flexible exam schedules and customised study tracks. On top of that, there are workshops on stress management, planning and balancing sport with academics. “We don’t want our athletes to be weighed down by their studies, we want them to build extra mental resilience,” says coordinator Koen De Brandt.
The VUB was the first university in Belgium to launch its own elite sport office, back in 1987, and that pioneering role is still very much alive. The experience we’ve built up over the years shapes not just our policies, but also academic research on combining sport and study. Other students with double careers, such as working students or young parents, also benefit from this approach.
That Roos’s academic path takes a bit longer isn’t a drawback, it’s a deliberate choice. At the VUB, she has the space to go at her own pace.
Read the full article on BRUZZ (in Dutch): After Roos Vanotterdijk’s medals: What’s the secret behind the VUB elite sport programme? | BRUZZ