News

School of Business has a great Olympic representation at the Paris Olympics

As many as four Aalto University students competed in the Paris Olympics 26.7.–11.8.2024
Painija, kauppatieteiden yo Arvi Savolainen
Arvi Savolainen. Photo: The Finnish Olympic Committee/Lauri Vuorinen

At the Paris Olympics, the Finnish team consisted of 57 athletes, three of whom study at the School of Business: javelin thrower Lassi Etelätalo, Greco-Roman wrestler Arvi Savolainen, and ILCA 7 sailor Kaarle Tapper. Nacra 17 sailor Akseli Keskinen, who competed with Sinem Kurtbay, studies at the School of Engineering. They are all pursuing what is known as a dual career, combining elite sports and studies.

This time, the Finnish team will miss out on medals at the Olympics if the situation does not change during the last weekend of the Games. Kaarle Tapper was forced to miss the Olympic regatta due to illness. He was 23rd in the race after four starts. Arvi Savolainen won his first match, but lost the second match to the Cuban world champion after a tight battle. Lassi Etelätalo threw the javelin in the final to finish eighth and sailor Akseli Keskinen together with helm Sinem Kurtbay sailed to 7th place.

Keihäänheittäjä, kauppatieteiden yo Lassi Etelätalo
Lassi Etelätalo. Photo: The Finnish Olympic Committee/Jesse Väänänen

‘To be selected for the Olympics is in itself a stunning thing and shows the quality of the athlete's work. Two of Aalto's students finished in the top eight in their sport, which is remarkable.’ 

‘At Aalto, we will continue to develop dual careers so that our top athletes have the best possible conditions to combine their studies and sports careers,’ says Aalto's Urhea representative, Professor of Practice Sami Itani from the Department of Management Studies at the School of Business.

Combining an athletic career with studying at Aalto

Aalto University is committed to helping students belonging to the Metropolitan Area Sports Academy Urhea combine studies with sports and to considering the particular needs and challenges of a career in competitive sports. Below you will find additional information on Aalto University’s support for student-athletes. The support is contingent upon the student’s Urhea membership. If you have been a member of Urhea before beginning your studies at Aalto, you must notify Urhea of your change of study place to have Aalto University notified of your membership. Please contact Urhea to change your details or check with the Urhea contact person of your Aalto school whether your name is already on the university’s list of Urhea members. See the bottom of the page for contact details.

Read more
Student guide illustration, supporting your studies
  • Published:
  • Updated:

Read more news

Summer School students at a welcome event in Helsinki.
Studies Published:

Aalto University Summer School 2024 Wrap-Up: Inspiring new learnings and opportunities for students from all over the world

Summer 2024 was one for the books – with 250 students from 70 different nationalities, each summer course was a whirlwind of new meetings, learnings and connections at the Aalto University campus.
Otaparkki pysäköintitalo
Campus, University Published:

Otaparkki now open also for Aalto staff

The top two floors of the Otaparkki multi-storey car park have been opened to the Aalto staff members.
Ulkokuva kampukselta, jossa joukko ihmisiä seisoo punatiilisen rakennuksen edessä.
University Published:

Aalto University endowment returned 7.9% during first half of 2024

Endowment provides EUR 41 million to fund research and education this year
Concrete staircase leading upstairs, a painting hanging on the wall on the left
Campus, Research & Art, University Published:

Shared imagination and the idea of waves - two new public art collections were unveiled

The art collections of Marsio and Kide buildings were published.