Academics and Sports: With Hard Work, Both Can Be Done

Mario and Giulia alternate studying at Bocconi with strenuous training sessions and international sports competitions – as Eleonora Giorgi, Vittorio Gallinari and Federico Vismara once did in the past. And like their peers before them, they are already champions.
Mario Guareschi, a 19-year-old Cremona native, is a European rowing under-23 quad scull lightweight champion in Belgium 2022, and a student enrolled in the Bachelor in Business Administration and Management at Bocconi. Giulia Amore is a fencer and – since March – European youth, individual and team champion in Tallinn, Estonia. She is currently enrolled in her first year of the Bachelor of Science in Economics, Management and Computer Science program.

"Rowing is a tough sport that requires intense and continuous training, but – unlike others where talent prevails – what you put into it counts. If you work hard, in the end the results will come." It is the same with studying, where for now Mario has managed to keep the pace: "Balancing the two commitments is difficult; the mental stress from rowing is sometimes even greater than that of university studies. I train every day, with more or less intense periods depending on the competition schedule. As I said before, I can manage the two obligations well," continues Mario, "but if I had to join the Olympic team – even if for now it is just a dream – the commitment to rowing would clearly become even more demanding, with inevitable consequences on my university career."

She tried every sport in an attempt to escape her fate, but in the end Giulia Amore did not succeed. Daughter of Olympic, World and European fencing champion, Diana Bianchedi (current Chief of Strategic Planning and Legacy of Milan Cortina 2026), and of European silver medalist, Gianmarco Amore, Giulia seems to be on the cusp of a promising career: "It was my parents who steered me toward other sports, to try to spare me the inevitable comparison to them. But then, during the London 2012 Games, I decided that I would pursue fencing. I was just nine years old, but I had a very clear idea about my future as an athlete." Her youth career was full of important achievements, culminating with the recent European Championships and upcoming transition to the next level. At the same time, she is pursuing a challenging university program (Bachelor of Science in Economics, Management and Computer Science) that will guarantee a bright future for her even after the competitions: "Also here I was inspired by my mother, a graduate in medicine, who was able to carry out her two commitments to the fullest. Of course it's hard, between studying and training there were moments where I was completely exhausted." The secret to getting out unscathed is called planning: "Next year, with the Paris 2024 Olympic team already practically formed, I will focus a lot on my studies; then for the year after, the last of my Bachelor, I will start training to make the team that will compete in the Los Angeles 2028 Games." The Olympic Games are a dream for every athlete, and although Giulia has already had a taste of the Games, she still aspires to achieve the dream for herself: "In some capacity I have already experienced them, both through family history and attending Casa Italia during Rio 2016. There is magic in the air."

For both students – and others like them who play competitive sports, both at national and international levels – their university careers may have to be prolonged beyond the normal duration. In such cases, Bocconi has intervened with a support program called Sport Talent where the University completely exempts tuition for student athletes for a maximum number of years "fuori corso," equal to the legal duration of the chosen course of study. This benefit will therefore be reserved exclusively for student athletes who, having demonstrated continuity and proven sports activity during their regular course of study (e.g. 3 years for a Bachelor of Science degree), will need additional time to conclude their studies. But that's not all. Recipients will be able to take advantage of other benefits, such as meetings with other recipient athletes; a support service; priority access to Bocconi University residences; use of Bocconi Sport Center services under special conditions (swimming pool, gym, fitness area); and use of the fitness area at the Team Sports Arena with dedicated personal trainers. The program offers a series of advantages that allows student athletes to face the double commitment with more peace of mind, though without necessarily making their university path easier.