From winning medals on the Olympic stage to pursuing Master’s degrees, here is a list of five of the most educated Olympic athletes who were in action at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Some of the athletes who were impressive at the Paris Olympics not only have achievements in sports but have also done well for themselves academically.

From gold medals to Master’s degrees, these top athletes know the tough balancing act between the two and put in the much-needed effort to ensure they impress on all fronts.

The Paris Olympics witnessed stunning showdowns, but who are these athletes with the ability to win medals on the Olympic stage and pursue degrees at the same time?

Malaika Mihambo

When it comes but also from the field event, the long jump master needs no introduction because she has achieved enough success in both the Olympic Games and the World Championships. She still aspires to greater fame on the international scene, though.

Silver medalist Mihambo won her title at the recently concluded Olympic Games in Paris. She also took home the long jump championship at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, and the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The German celebrity attended the University of Mannheim for her undergraduate studies in political science. In 2014, she was named the German Sports Aid Foundation’s “Sports Scholarship Holder of the Year” for her exceptional long jump performance.

She didn’t stop there. Mihambo is presently enrolled in the University of Hagen’s Master of Environmental Science program.

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

After missing the women’s 100m semifinal, the Jamaican sprint queen may have let her supporters down. Her final Olympic Games would be in Paris, although she would end it pretty poorly after withdrawing from the women’s race.

Having won three gold, four silver medals,, and one bronze medal in the women’s sprinting scene, she still holds numerous laurels.

In terms of education, Fraser-Pryce defended her 100-meter championship at the 2012 London Olympics, and she graduated in November 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Child and Adolescent Development from the University of Technology.

She never followed through on her plan to study for a Master of Science in Applied Psychology at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in 2016. Fraser-Pryce received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from UWI and the University of Technology, in recognition of her steadfast contributions to the advancement of society.

Gabby Thomas

Thomas’s outstanding performance at the Olympic Games in Paris has made her the new face of track and field.

With three gold medals, the Americans left the Olympic arena. She won the gold in the women’s 200-meter final to kick off her Olympic career in style. She then assisted Team USA in taking home the gold in the 4×100- and 4×400-meter relays.

But that’s not the only noteworthy aspect of the 27-year-old’s existence. She received admission to the esteemed Harvard University to study neuroscience, with a French citation and a minor in global health and health policy.

Thomas completed her master’s degree in epidemiology in May 2023 at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston’s regional campus in Austin.

Hugues Fabrice Zango

Fabrice Zango,, the star player for Burkina Faso, has elevated the nation to a global level with his impressive achievements both on and off the track. He is the current world champion and holds the triple jump indoor record. In addition, he created history for Burkina Faso by taking home the bronze medal in the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the country’s first-ever Olympic medal.

Regarding academia, he also has business. Zango graduated from the University of Artois in 2018 with a master’s degree in electronics, electrical energy, and automation. The same university also awarded him a PhD in electrical engineering.

Aitana Bonmati

Without a doubt, the Spaniard is among the world’s top football players. Although her team did not win the Olympics in Paris, her incredible feats will live on in history.

In addition to helping Spain win the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Bonmati has already been recognized with the Ballon d’Or and named the Best FIFA Women’s Player Award for the 2022–2023 season. She was voted the tournament’s top player and became the first female football player to win Sportswoman of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Award.

Bonmati graduated from Ramon Llull University with a bachelor’s degree in physical activity and sports science. She never stopped there, as she is now enrolled in the Johan Cruyff Institute to pursue a master’s degree in sports management.