Studying university degrees at full time while participating in elite sport competitions can be an extremely demanding challenge. However, Antonina Jackowiak and Daniel Martínez, two students from the Universitat de València, are examples of how effort and perseverance such a goal can be achieved. This is proven by their results in two recent international competitions.
Psychology student Antonina Jackowiak won the bronze medal in the 2026 FISU International University Cycling Championship, which was celebrated in China between the 25th and 29th of July. As for Daniel Martínez, he is a student in the Degree in Physical Activity and Sports Science who also won a bronze medal in the International University Handball Championship celebrated in France from the 20th to the 27th of June.
Sports have been part of Antonina Jackowiak’s life for as long as he can remember. Cycling has always been present in her family. She was raised surrounded by bicycles and, although she still prioritises her studies, she states that having goals in sports has helped her to organised her time better and be more disciplined.
As a Psychology student, she highlights her fascination for the connection between physical activity and the way brains function. “Training not only improves your performance in sports, but also positively influences your studies”, she points out. “Sports give me the discipline I need to study, and university helps me understand aspects such as motivation, learning and performance better, which are also present in sports”, she adds.
The key is to find the balance between your studies and training. In this sense, training can help you improve your academic performance. Moreover, the motivation these two students feel from having won the bronze medals in their respective championships encourages them to keep devoting their time to their passions.
