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Twelve Elite Athletes from VUB Compete in the Paris Olympic Games

The Olympic Games have begun! From July 26 to August 11, 2024, twelve elite athletes from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) will head to Paris to represent their countries. These student-athletes, coming from various disciplines, excel in combining their studies at VUB with their sporting careers.

For many years, VUB has provided support to students engaged in high-level sports. Since its inception in 1987, the "Topsport en Studie" (Elite Sport and Study) program has supported over 1,100 student-athletes across no fewer than 61 disciplines, including 31 Olympic sports. The Topsport en Studie program offers maximum flexibility in how high-level athletes pursue their studies at VUB, enabling them to thrive in their sporting environment while continuing their education.

This expertise is paying off: this summer, twelve current and former students will participate in the Paris Games. Among them are Florent Van Aubel (former Communication Sciences student), Loick Luypaert (former Movement and Sports Sciences student), Antonia Delaere (former Psychology student), Nastja Claessens (Psychology student), Jonathan Sacoor (Business Economics), Pieter Sisk (Communication Sciences), Roos Vanotterdijk (Psychology), Jorre Verstraeten (Movement and Sports Sciences), Lucas Claeyssens (Civil Engineering), Yannick Lefèbvre (former Movement and Sports Sciences student), Sarah Van Aalen (Criminology, representing the Netherlands), and Martina Weil (Business Economics, representing Chile).

These athletes come from a range of disciplines, including athletics, volleyball, swimming, judo, sailing, hockey, and basketball. All have demonstrated an impressive ability to balance high-level sports and academics and are determined to give their best during the Games.

Overview of Student-Athletes and Their Disciplines:

  • Florent Van Aubel (former Communication Sciences student) – Hockey
  • Loick Luypaert (former Movement and Sports Sciences student) – Hockey
  • Antonia Delaere (former Psychology student) – Basketball
  • Jonathan Sacoor (Business Economics) – Athletics (400m)
  • Pieter Sisk (Communication Sciences) – Athletics (800m)
  • Roos Vanotterdijk (Psychology) – Swimming
  • Jorre Verstraeten (Movement and Sports Sciences) – Judo
  • Lucas Claeyssens (Civil Engineering) – Sailing (mixed class, 1 man/1 woman)
  • Yannick Lefèbvre (former Movement and Sports Sciences student) – Sailing (49er, double-handed boat)
  • Sarah Van Aalen (Netherlands, Criminology) – Volleyball
  • Martina Weil (Chile, Business Economics) – Athletics (400m)

Contact

Koen De Brandt
​koen.de.brandt@vub.be

Sam Jaspers

Sam Jaspers

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About Press - Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Vrije Universiteit Brussel is an internationally oriented university in Brussels, the heart of Europe. By providing excellent research and education on a human scale, VUB wants to make an active and committed contribution to a better society.

The World Needs You

The Vrije Universiteit Brussel assumes its scientific and social responsibility with love and decisiveness. That’s why VUB launched the platform De Wereld Heeft Je Nodig – The World Needs You, which brings together ideas, actions and projects based on six Ps. The first P stands for People, because that’s what it’s all about: giving people equal opportunities, prosperity, welfare, respect. Peace is about fighting injustice, big and small, in the world. Prosperity combats poverty and inequality. Planet stands for actions on biodiversity, climate, air quality, animal rights... With Partnership, VUB is looking for joint actions to make the world a better place. The sixth and last P is for Poincaré, the French philosopher Henri Poincaré, from whom VUB derives its motto that thinking should submit to nothing except the facts themselves. VUB is an ‘urban engaged university’, strongly anchored in Brussels and Europe and working according to the principles of free research.

www.vub.be/dewereldheeftjenodig

 


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02 / 629.11.38

tineke.sonck@vub.be

www.vub.ac.be