The conference organized by Bernard Curzi, director of EDHEC, aimed to unveil the new study method for high-level athletes: e-learning. This new way of teaching allows athletes to balance studies and a sports career. An unprecedented approach in France.
The transition for athletes after their careers is an age-old issue. ESPEME may have found a solution to help athletes transition into the future seamlessly: e-learning. With this approach, students can watch classes on their computers and are regularly subjected to tests.
Christophe Saïoni (former skier), Odile Diagana (former heptathlete), and Laurent Tillie (former volleyball player) attended to share their experiences. Although their paths were different, they all faced the same issue: balancing studies and sports.
Odile Diagana is enthusiastic about e-learning: “It’s a great method because you can attend classes from anywhere. For an athlete who travels all the time, it’s a major advantage.”
Laurent Tillie acknowledges the significant progress made over thirty years, though there is still room for improvement. He believes inspiration should be drawn from the American model. “The only country in the world where you can properly combine studies and high-level sports is the United States. Both my sons are there, and it’s nothing like France,” he asserts, adding that e-learning is a very good idea.
A transition often challenging
An athlete is often showered with gold during their career. They feel protected and do not realize that after their high-level sports life, they will need to do something else to live. With his innovative concept, Bernard Curzi thinks his students will no longer face this issue. “Having a top-level athlete or former athlete in a company is beneficial for everyone. They can bring their motivation and mindset to the rest of the team,” he stated.
And the director of EDHEC is determined to succeed. Each student-athlete at EDHEC (there are 16) has their own tutor. These athletes are closely monitored to ensure they do not abandon their studies, even though Bernard Curzi acknowledges that a top-level athlete has greater motivation than a traditional student.
