Remote schooling is now a reality for students all over the world. It’s also useful when you are unable to travel for several weeks. The technology has been tested extensively for over two years.
Nathan Smith is a student at Minnesota State University. He was one of 15 college hockey players for the U.S men’s hockey team.
Smith stated, “I was unsure what kind of connection and all I’d have over there.” “I try to do my best and keep up.”
Devon Levi is a goaltender for Canada’s men’s hockey team. He is also a Northeastern University student. His teachers support his athletic pursuits so he’s trying to do his best to stay on top of his studies. He took his books to Beijing.
Levi, who majors in computer science and business, said that it was a unique opportunity. “They are on my side and want me to pursue my dreams.”
Jared Shumate is a U.S. Nordic combined athlete who is currently studying sociology and geography at the University of Utah.
He said that balancing school and skiing has been easier than in his first two years of living in dorms, where he was taking classes in-person and was learning.
Michelle Smith Ware, a member of NACADA’s board of directors, stated that most young Olympians have mastered the art of balancing academic and competing demands by the time they reach elite levels of their sport.
It is not possible for everyone to achieve this balance. Arabella Ng, a Hong Kong skier, has reportedly decided to withdraw from the Beijing Games due to academic pressures as well as travel restrictions imposed by the pandemic.
Ware, director of academic support for athletics at University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota, stated that “it’s really an individual decision.”
She said, “Either your place is up for grabs, or your education is on hold. Or you’re trying to balance the demands of a semester with training and competing in the Olympics.” It must be difficult.
The U.S. figure skate team is made up of Ivy Leaguers, who put off their education to pursue their Olympic dreams after the coronavirus crisis and classes moved to Zoom.
Nathan Chen, a gold medalist, is studying statistics at Yale University. Vincent Zhou at Brown University is studying data science. Karen Chen is pre-med at Cornell University. Princeton University has granted Chloe Kim permission to snowboard.
Nathan Chen stated that the only thing that was certain after winning Beijing gold was his desire to return to school in August.
Some athletes used remote schooling to stay focused on their sport even before the pandemic.
Gleb and Diana Smolkin, both Russian ice dancers, are both studying at Astrakhan State Technical University (Süd Russia).
They train in Novi (Michigan), but they also skate for Sambo70, the club of Davis’ mother, Eteri Tutberidze, a Russian figure skating coach.
Smolkin stated that the club has an agreement with the University which allows them to continue their studies remotely.
Smolkin stated, “It’s all distant learning, so it’s no problem for us.” “They make concessions for us. It’s the Olympics now, and they allow us to concentrate on competing. But after that, we will have to go through all the assessments.”
Ware stated that even after the pandemic recedes, remote schooling will continue to be a valuable resource for students who want to balance elite athletics and campus life.
Ware stated that there are many opportunities to use this after COVID. “I don’t know how institutions will embrace it. Why not make use of the technology?