ISU Junior Skater Scholarship Program
ISU Junior Skater Scholarship Program. With the help of the ISU Junior Skater Scholarship Program, many talented young skaters have been able to pursue their dreams of further education.
Petra Jászapáti, a Hungarian student, received a scholarship in 2016. An excellent concept for skaters of all ages, she remarked, because it gives you a boost of motivation. As a result of the ISU’s belief that these athletes have the ability to succeed, they are given scholarships. Skaters can also get help with the cost of their equipment and training camps thanks to the initiative. In the end, it has worked out well for Jászapáti, who began training with Hungary’s senior team in 2014 and has since gone from strength to strength.
Jaszapti role
Jaszapti has taken part in the last two Winter Olympics. Hungary’s mixed relay team earned bronze in Beijing in 2022, and she was a member of it.
When it comes to balancing the ice and textbooks, Jászapti’s method has always worked.
“I was researching the entire time I was on the ice,” the skater claims. Being both a skater and a learner allows me to really combine my interests.
“I want to work as a translator after I finish my university German coursework. Despite being unable to go to school because of the Olympics, I’m determined to do better this year! When I’m done teaching this year, I’ll be able to concentrate on finishing the dissertation and taking the final exams. Because skating isn’t going to last forever, knowing that I’ll have something to fall back on gives me a sense of security. After that, I’ll have a diploma and be ready to find work.”
She was ecstatic with her accomplishments in Beijing this year, and so was Jászapti. A gold medal in the Olympic Games is something she’ll hold on to “for the rest of my life,” she added. At dinner, I’ll talk about it with my grandchildren. Even now, when I close my eyes, I can still picture myself standing atop the Olympic podium.
Scholarship
In 2016, the ISU Junior Skater Scholarship was awarded to Hanne Desmet of Belgium. In her final year of high school, she received the honor. She said, “It was really helpful to me.” When I got the ISU scholarship, I was able to practice with the men’s team because the Belgian Federation was funding the men’s team at the time.
“Even if your country is small, you won’t get much support unless you are exceptionally good. This helps you all the way to that point, which is fantastic. It allowed me to go and train abroad, which is something that not many individuals can afford to do on their own. Taking the sport seriously at the age of 17 helped me rise through the ranks from Junior to Senior.”
As in the case of Jászapáti, the encouragement paid off handsomely. Suzanne Schulting (NED) and Choi Minjeong (KOR) won the gold medal in the 1000m at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games (KOR).
Finance
Desmet is working toward a degree in business engineering in addition to her work as an ice skater. It’s been a few years since I graduated with my Bachelor’s and I’m now working on my Master’s,” she explained. To understand it, one must understand economics in conjunction with physical and chemical principles. This could lead to a career in management, finance, or control. In the meantime, I’m focusing on my skating career and aiming to reach the pinnacle of the sport.”
Skaters like Shaoang Liu of Hungary, Michaela Sejpalová-Hruzová of the Czech Republic, Quentin Fercoq of France, Furkan Akar of Turkey, and Zhang Chutong of China, who are all world champions and Olympic gold medalists, have all benefited from the ISU Junior Skater Scholarship Program.