Olympic-sized juggling act: How two athletes balance studies and sport

We know that balancing preparing for final assessments and exams with other commitments can be challenging. But what if you were also training to compete on the world’s biggest sporting stage? For Will Yang, an Olympic swimmer who represented Australia in the Mens 4x 100m freestyle relays, and Evie Haseldine, a sailor who competed in Women's skiff 49erFX sailing at the Paris 2024 Olympics, balancing their university studies with their Olympic dreams required a lot of planning, flexibility, and focus.

We caught up with both athletes ahead of exam season to hear how they balanced their studies and any advice they have for students facing their own big challenges. 

For Will, flexibility was essential to managing his dual roles as a student and athlete. “I balanced my commitments by doing part-time university, which allowed me more flexibility,” he says. “Time management is key, and I made sure to get tasks done ahead of schedule.”

Evie, meanwhile, took on an Olympic campaign that required everything she had. “My Olympic campaign was slightly unique as it was ‘fast-tracked’. I teamed up with my helm (Olivia Price, a silver medallist at the 2012 Olympics) 1000 days out from competition, while the teams we were up against had been sailing together for 8-10 years. I saw academics as something that coincided with performance in sport. Athletes need rest, and study helped keep my mind occupied during those times,” she says. She also adapted her study schedule when needed, staying on track with her academic and athletic goals. 

Looking to strengthen your time management skills? Visit our time management resource page for tips on balancing study and other commitments.

When you’re preparing for an exam, competing for an Olympic medal might feel like a completely different challenge, but for take it from those who’ve done both, they’re more similar than you’d think!

“For me, preparing for an exam and preparing for an Olympic swimming competition is quite similar,” Will explains. “The more you prepare, the better the result. All the nerves, anxiety, and stress can be solved through thorough preparation. It’s about committing to one goal every day and working to perfect your craft over and over again.” 

For Evie, it’s all about planning out your time to ensure you have the structures in place to help you succeed, whether completing an exam or competing on the world stage. “We would plan backwards from the start of a competition to make sure we had everything prepared. I would schedule key tasks like preparing equipment or going over technical details, and this mirrored how I would structure my study times.”

It’s also important to look back at your feedback and results from previous exams and assignments to see where you can make improvements and what might have led to some performances that weren’t quite worthy of the podium. 

“In sailing, we set performance goals that weren’t focused on our score but on improving key areas we’d identified in training,” Evie says. “It’s similar in my studies. I try to learn from my previous assignments and apply that feedback to my next tasks.”

Will’s approach to tackling both his studies and his Olympic training boiled down to mindset. “Preparation and mindset are everything. Once you have a clear goal, focus on everything within your control to accomplish it.”

Evie’s advice? Don’t be afraid to ask for help and lean on those around you. “Trust in the team around you or those who are willing to help. Most of the time, if you show a willingness to learn and dedicate yourself, people will give you the time of day,” she says. 

While you first port of call for support may be friends or family, the University is also here to help, offering a range of academic and personal student support services to help you both in and out of the examination room.

Whether you’re striving to wear the green and gold or just a passing mark, you will run into roadblocks, but that’s part of the process. 

“As long as your choices are aligned with your goals, block out any noise or judgment from others and keep doing the work. It might not pay off immediately, but the skills and perspective you gain are invaluable.”

Whether you’re preparing for an exam or for competition, it’s important to take the time beforehand to get in the zone. For Will, it’s about entering a mental state of confidence. “Before a competition, I drink coffee and listen to music to get into the zone. I remind myself, ‘I can do this.’ But this mindset is built from knowing that I’ve put in the training every day.”

As for dealing with curveballs? For Evie, it’s about giving yourself the best chance to succeed. “In sailing, we deal with a lot of unpredictable variables, so it’s all about controlling what we can. My routine is about preparation in all areas–checking equipment, revising frameworks with my psychologist, maintaining my sleep, nutrition, and physical preparation.” 

As exam season approaches, take a page from Will and Evie’s playbook. Whether you’re balancing your studies with other commitments or gearing up for a major challenge, success comes down to preparation, mindset, and managing what you can control. So, get planning, stay focused, and remember – it’s all part of the journey.