Aarhus University has taught many talented athletes over time, including the Danish Olympic gold medal winners Tonje Kjærgaard (1996 and 2000), Thomas Jacobsen (2000), Martin Kirketerp (2008) and Jonas Warrer (2008).
Right now, there are almost 300 elite athletes who meet the criteria for AU Elitesport and are studying in parallel with their sporting careers.
Elite athletes represent more than 40 different sports at Aarhus University. Below you can read more about Ida Marie Baad Nielsen, who is 49'erFX sailor on the Danish sailing team.
Ida Marie Baad Nielsen is studying business administration at Aarhus University, but, alongside her studies, she spends much of her time with her partner Marie Thusgaard Olsen on their 49er FX-class boat.
“As a sailor with Olympic ambitions, I spend a large part of the year abroad –both for training and for competitions. This creates many challenges in relation to my studies. AU Elitesport has organised extra teaching in various subjects and allowed me to take exams abroad, and I have also been assigned a study assistant who helps me to keep in touch with the study environment.”
Ida Marie Baad Nielsen and her partner Marie Thusgaard Olsen, who is also studying at Aarhus University, have won a number of World and European Championship medals in different classes of boat in recent years.
