Luiss Top Athlete and Olympic champion Giorgio Avola graduates from Luiss

Fresh from his Olympic successes, Giorgio Avola crowns his flourishing period with a degree with honors in Economics and Management from Luiss University. What does it mean to pursue an academic path together with the many competitive commitments? We talked about it with him.

Congratulations Doctor! Already an Olympic champion and now a degree with honors. What does it mean to you?
It has a double meaning for me because I feel like myself in the gym, I know I’m worth something and I just have to prove it; it’s different between the desks. University was a discovery and I had to question myself from scratch.
Considering your heavy sporting commitments, have you ever thought of not being able to do it or even of giving up your studies? How did you find the motivation to continue?
No, I’ve never thought about quitting, I’ve always tried to improve and optimize my time in order to be more efficient and to be able to reconcile studying with training.
During these years of university you have been an atypical student: is there anything you regret?
No, actually – as I always say – it’s better to live with regrets than with regrets. I don’t regret anything, it was an incredible journey, almost a dream for me. I consider it a life experience as well as an academic one.
What memory will you always keep in your heart?
The most beautiful memory is certainly linked to my first exam: it was at the same time as a World Cup competition and I passed with flying colors. It was a key moment because I realized that I could do it and I could be as competitive as the other students.
What are your sports and professional plans now?
I have entered the MBA program, the Master in Business Administration program at Luiss Business School, which will last a year and a half. In the meantime, I will be preparing for the Paris Olympics, so the conclusion of my competitive career will correspond with the beginning of my professional one.
As a graduate student, what do you feel like advising freshmen studying and playing competitive sports?
So much has been said in terms of Dual Career and the benefits of playing sports to academics and vice versa. My advice is to set daily, weekly, monthly goals: and aim higher as you go. I, in my own small way, set myself several steps to reach: the first was not to refuse any grade, a bit like in sports, where you can’t change the results of a match.
I really recommend not to settle and always aim high!