Balancing veterinary studies with elite fencing

From fencing for fun to the national team

At 15–16, Sophie joined the cadet and U17 national teams. She competed in the European and World Championships before joining the junior national team. Had she ever imagined competing at that level? ‘I never thought I’d compete in the European Championships and the World Championships,’ she says. She had started fencing simply because it was fun. Her parents were pleased she had found a sport she loved and a great group of friends.

Sophie had another ambition, too: she had wanted to be a vet since she was four, when she was fascinated by television programmes about surgery. At upper secondary school, she studied natural sciences and made time to take the Swedish Scholastic Aptitude Test alongside training and competitions. ‘Once I’ve made up my mind, there’s no plan B. I know I can do it.’ She describes herself as competitive, and it shows.

Defeating the Olympic champions from Estonia

Sophie’s proudest moment came at the European Championships in Antalya. The team had not been competing together for long, but they worked well together from the start. Sophie won her first bout. Next came Estonia, the reigning Olympic champions.

‘It’ll work out somehow,’ she and her team-mates thought. The first bout went well, as did the next, and the pressure eased with every victory. ‘In the end, we felt: we can beat them. We’ve got this.’ The team won with the fencing world watching. ‘It was absolutely mad – a real shocker that I’ll never forget.’ They finished sixth overall. Sophie also has several team gold medals from the Swedish Championships.

Sophie particularly enjoys team fencing: ‘When you’re fencing a tough bout, there’s always someone there to lift you up, and next time, you’ll be the one doing it.’

Studying in Uppsala and training in Stockholm

Pursuing both ambitions takes planning. Sophie studies in Uppsala but lives in Stockholm, where her coach and club are based. She commutes every day and gives up much of her free time to fit everything in. Even so, she makes time for parties and friends: she wants to make the most of student life.

SLU has helped Sophie fit her studies around competitions. Before starting her studies, she checked that the university supported students competing at elite level. She has been able to switch groups for compulsory course components or complete an alternative assignment, allowing her to compete in Tallinn. There are limits, though: one exam could not be rescheduled, but she has always received help to explore possible solutions. She has also attended group lunches with the vice-chancellor and other students competing in elite sport.

Sport also benefits her studies. During exam weeks, training gives her a welcome break: ‘I really must go now; training’s about to start.’ She will take the teamwork skills she gains through fencing, including supporting others, into her future workplace.

Putting veterinary theory into practice

Sophie has waited a long time to begin practical training and work with live animals on her programme. The first year focuses on anatomy, the second on diseases, and the third on food safety and epidemiology – how diseases occur and spread. Now she is putting that knowledge into practice: ‘Now I understand all the processes behind what I’ve learnt, and now the fun begins.’ She adds: ‘I’m really excited!’ She does not yet know what she wants to specialise in. Surgery appeals to her, but so do many other areas.

Setbacks, goals and championships

Sophie dreams of competing in the Olympics, but balancing that ambition with her studies is difficult at the moment. She also hopes to compete in more European and world championships and improve her results. Setbacks make her angry, but the feeling soon passes. If she fails an exam, she knows she can try again. Her advice to anyone considering combining elite sport with university studies is simple: ‘Plan. It’ll be tough, but not impossible.’ Sometimes that means missing a training camp or choosing to take an exam at the resit so she can compete. It is a balancing act, ‘but you have to do the best you can.’