In Sri Lanka, Dr. Chelliah Thurairajah is a classic example for the fact that one can excel both in sports and academics. He played rugby, cricket, badminton, tennis, basketball, football, athletics, and boxing at high level whilst also becoming a highly qualified consultant radiologist[/caption]
At the outset, regular readers of this column must be wondering whether this is an article concerning tennis itself. The short answer to that query is, yes, it is.
This is because of the fact that the ability of the players of any sport, not just tennis, to be able to balance studies and sports is probably the most important thing for their future.
This topic is most timely because of the fact that the pandemic has shown that all sports persons, regardless of the sport they do, need to have education, as a fallback option as well.
Modern trend
It is most prevalent in today’s society that all things are done in extremes. For instance, quite a number of teachers encourage kids to focus on studies only. This unfortunately extends so far as to discouraging as well as criticising the kids who take part in sports.
This is the modern trend, which is far from the trend that this writer faced when he was in school. At that time, the teachers were very supportive of the students who took part in sports, going so far as to take them as examples for the other students as well.
Attitude change
In fact, the teachers were kind enough to give extra classes free of charge to the students who missed any studies due to any sporting activity.
But this attitude change on the part of the teachers is based on the changing attitude of the sports persons themselves. This is because, in today’s society, most of the students who take part in sports neglect or give up outright their studies.
Dr. Pereira and Dr. Thurairaja
The days of the great personalities such as Dr. Fred Pereira and Dr. Chelliah Thurairajah, who excelled in both studies and sports, seem to be a thing of the past.
But if this pandemic has shown anything, it is the fact that all young sports persons who take part in sports, and even professional or semi professional sports people, need to have studies as a second string to their bow.
Intelligent Olympians
In the Summer Olympics that just finished in Tokyo, there were quite a number of very intelligent sports personalities taking part in various events. This was specially highlighted as their ability to balance their academics with their sporting abilities, and should be lauded by everyone concerned. (See boxed details)
Conclusion
What this conclusively proves is the fact that trying for sporting achievements is no hindrance for academic achievements. What needs to be there is the dedication and commitment of the athletes.
Young Sri Lankan sports personalities need to take the above athletes as an inspiration and try to emulate them. They too can learn from international sporting personalities in their chosen sport.
Perhaps they are no TV or social media “darlings”. But what they are real-life heroes and heroines.
Tokyo 2020 Olympians who are qualified SCIENTISTS!
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An Olympian this time in Tokyo in skateboarding, Charlotte Hym of France is a doctor in neuroscience[/caption]
1. Anna Kiesenhofer (Austria):
She won the cycling route, without a professional coach or support from anyone. She has a doctorate in mathematics from the Technical University of Vienna and the University of Cambridge, UK. She works in research and teaching at the Technical University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
2. Hadia Hosny (Egypt):
She finished an impressive career in badminton, but has two gigantic additions. She is a professor at the British University of Egypt. She has a master’s degree in bio-medicine from the University of Bath, UK, and a doctorate in pharmacology from the University of Cairo, and also has researched and published articles on an anti-inflammatory drug used for various diseases. She is also a congressman in her country.
3. Charlotte Hym (France):
Debuted in “street skateboarding”, when Hym gets off the skateboard she is a doctor in neuroscience and her current job is to investigate the effect of the mother’s voice on the development of motor skills in the newborns.
4. Gabby Thomas (U.S.A.):
A bronze medallist in the 200 m and already a legend in the discipline for being the third fastest woman in history in the discipline, Thomas studied neurobiology and global health at Harvard University. She is pursuing a master’s degree in epidemiology and health management at the University of Texas at Austin, and her work focuses on the investigation of racial inequality in access to the health services in the U.S.A.
5. Louise Shanahan (Ireland)
She was preparing for Paris 2024 but managed to qualify for Tokyo in the 800 m. She is a graduate of quantum physics from the University of Cork, Ireland, and is pursuing her PhD at the University of Cambridge, England. She studies and develops devices to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment.
6. Nadine Apetz (Germany):
She is the first female German boxer in an Olympics, with which she already has her own merit. Nadine has a master’s degree in neuroscience from the University of Bremen and hopes to complete a doctorate at the Cologne University Hospital. Apetz is studying a technique called ‘deep brain stimulation’, which involves applying electrical or electromagnetic currents to certain areas of the “gray matter” of the brain. Her goal is to help Parkinson’s patients.
7. Andrea Murez (Israel):
She is a swimmer who participated in 50, 100, and 200 m freestyle and 4x100 m mixed relays. But, when she is out of the pool, Murez is a biologist from Stanford University, U.S.A.
(Information courtesy of BBC Mundo)