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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鈥檚 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.聽

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

Evie, meanwhile, took on an Olympic campaign that required everything she had. 鈥淢y Olympic campaign was slightly unique as it was 鈥榝ast-tracked鈥�. 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,鈥� she says. She also adapted her study schedule when needed, staying on track with her academic and athletic goals.聽

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

When you鈥檙e preparing for an exam, competing for an Olympic medal might feel like a completely different challenge, but for take it from those who鈥檝e done both, they鈥檙e more similar than you鈥檇 think!

鈥淔or me, preparing for an exam and preparing for an Olympic swimming competition is quite similar,鈥� Will explains. 鈥淭he more you prepare, the better the result. All the nerves, anxiety, and stress can be solved through thorough preparation. It鈥檚 about committing to one goal every day and working to perfect your craft over and over again.鈥澛�

For Evie, it鈥檚 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. 鈥淲e 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.鈥�

It鈥檚 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鈥檛 quite worthy of the podium.聽

鈥淚n sailing, we set performance goals that weren鈥檛 focused on our score but on improving key areas we鈥檇 identified in training,鈥� Evie says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 similar in my studies. I try to learn from my previous assignments and apply that feedback to my next tasks.鈥�

Will鈥檚 approach to tackling both his studies and his Olympic training boiled down to mindset. 鈥淧reparation and mindset are everything. Once you have a clear goal, focus on everything within your control to accomplish it.鈥�

Evie鈥檚 advice? Don鈥檛 be afraid to ask for help and lean on those around you. 鈥淭rust 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,鈥� she says.聽

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鈥檙e striving to wear the green and gold or just a passing mark, you will run into roadblocks, but that鈥檚 part of the process.聽

鈥淎s 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.鈥�

Whether you鈥檙e preparing for an exam or for competition, it鈥檚 important to take the time beforehand to get in the zone. For Will, it鈥檚 about entering a mental state of confidence. 鈥淏efore a competition, I drink coffee and listen to music to get into the zone. I remind myself, 鈥業 can do this.鈥� But this mindset is built from knowing that I鈥檝e put in the training every day.鈥�

As for dealing with curveballs? For Evie, it鈥檚 about giving yourself the best chance to succeed. 鈥淚n sailing, we deal with a lot of unpredictable variables, so it鈥檚 all about controlling what we can. My routine is about preparation in all areas鈥揷hecking equipment, revising frameworks with my psychologist, maintaining my sleep, nutrition, and physical preparation.鈥澛�

As exam season approaches, take a page from Will and Evie鈥檚 playbook. Whether you鈥檙e 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 鈥� it鈥檚 all part of the journey.