Nine medals, 5 countries represented, a quarter of the French team, a third of France's medals! In 2022, 33 UGA students and young graduates took part in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing.

Two and a half years later, the adventure continues in Paris with a historic home Olympics. The UGA's winter sports specialists handed over the baton to summer sports specialists and a new 'UGA' delegation of 12 athletes.



"UGA is very proud that 8 graduates and 4 high-level sports students from the UGA will be taking part in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Our entire community will be supporting them; this qualification is a 'grail' for any athlete", says a delighted Philippe Giroud, Director of the Special Needs Students Department and in charge of the High-Level Sport (SHN) mission at UGA.

"We are particularly pleased that many of them are young graduates: our arrangements have enabled them to succeed academically without hindering their preparation for top-level sport, thanks in particular to the hybrid and distance learning courses that we have developed. We know that their professional future is assured".

UGA students and graduates at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games

From 26 July to 11 August 2024 for the Olympic Games, and from 28 August to 8 September 2024 for the Paralympic Games, follow and encourage the 12 UGA students and graduates qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in 10 sporting disciplines.

Like the students and graduates of the UGA, some of them are pure sporting products of the Grenoble Alpes region, while others have travelled from all over France and abroad to benefit from the support set up by UGA for top-level student athletes.

Rowing

Emma Lunatti
A member of the French rowing team, Emma Lunatti graduated from Grenoble Ecole de Management (GEM) in 2020 with a DUT GEA (IUT2). A member of Aviron Grenoblois, she qualified in the double sculls alongside Élodie Ravera-Scaramozzino. A bronze medallist at the final stage of the World Cup in Poznan in June 2024, she is taking part in her 2nd Olympic Games.

Laura Tarantola
A member of the French rowing team, Laura Tarantola graduated from a DUT in Legal Careers (IUT2) in 2015 and from Grenoble École de Management (GEM). The reigning Olympic vice-champion, she qualified in the lightweight double sculls alongside Claire Bové. Silver medallist last June in Poznan on the World Cup circuit, the member of Aviron Grenoblois is taking part in her 2nd Olympics.

Climbing

Paul Jenft
A member of the French climbing team, Paul Jenft is a student engineer in his 2nd year of the preparatory cycle at Polytech Grenoble - INP, UGA. European junior champion in 2017 at just 15 years of age, the young French climbing prodigy qualified in sport climbing (bouldering & difficulty). Ranked in the world's top 10 in the discipline, he secured his ticket to Paris in June after two stages of the Olympic Qualifier Series.

Fencing

Jean-Philippe Patrice
A member of the French fencing team, Jean-Philippe Patrice graduated from a DUT GEA (IUT2) in 2018. A sabre specialist, he won his first individual medal on the international circuit at the 2024 European Championships, finishing 3rd on the podium. He will be taking part in the Olympic Games as an official substitute for the French sabre team.

Gymnastics

Pierre Gouzou
A member of the French trampoline team, Pierre Gouzou is a student on a 3 SHIFT degree course in Sports Training (UFR STAPS). During his gap year at INSEP, he qualified for the trampoline events. European vice-champion in 2024 and 2022, he has an impressive track record: European team vice-champion in 2024, world team champion in 2023 and vice-champion in 2022, synchronised bronze medallist at the 2021, 2022 and 2023 World Championships, etc.

Swimming

Marina Jehl
A member of the French national swimming team, Marina Jehl is graduating in 2022 with a degree in SHIFT, specialising in sports training (UFR STAPS). Thanks to her 3rd place in the 200 m freestyle on 17 June 2024 at the French swimming championships, and after beating her personal best over this distance, the young swimmer has been selected to compete in the women's 4 x 200 m freestyle Olympic relay.

Pauline Mahieu
A member of the French swimming team, Pauline Mahieu graduated with a SHIFT degree in Sports Training (UFR STAPS) in 2023 and has been selected for a Masters in EOPS next year. Vice-champion of Europe in the 200m backstroke in 2023, the French backstroke athlete secured her ticket to the Olympic Games last June at the French championships with her silver medal.

Para cycling

Florian Jouanny
A member of the French para-cycling team, Florian Jouanny graduated from a vocational degree in industry (IUT1) in 2017 and was the winner of the Fondation UGA's "Coup de pouce" scholarship. World champion, European champion: Florian Jouanny has dominated world handibike racing for several years. This is his 2nd Olympics after Tokyo, where he won gold in the time trial, silver in the relay and bronze in the time trial.

Para swimming

David Smetanine
A member of the French para-swimming team, David Smetanie graduated from Grenoble IAE in 2006 with a master's degree in management. A historic figure in French para-swimming, he will be taking part in his sixth Paralympic Games in Paris in August and September, aiming to win a tenth medal.

Modern pentathlon

Valentin Prades
A member of the French modern pentathlon team, Valentin Prades graduated from a DUT GEA (IUT2) in 2015. He finished second at the World Cup in Ankara (Turkey) last May, and is the undisputed first-choice member of the French modern pentathlon team, having been No. 1 in the discipline on three occasions. After Rio and Tokyo, Valentin Pradès will be taking part in his third Olympic Games and is hoping to win the first French Olympic medal in the history of the discipline.

Taekwondo

Faysal Sawadogo
A member of the Burkina Faso taekwondo team, Faysal Sawadogo is studying for a master's degree in Development Economics (Faculty of Economics). Last April, the young taekwondo player beat the world No. 2 in the discipline to win the gold medal at the Estonian Open, confirming his progress up the world rankings. Reigning African champion, he is taking part in his 2nd Olympic Games in the -80kg category.

Triathlon

Emma Lombardi
A member of the French triathlon team, Emma Lombardi is a student on her 3rd degree in economics and management (Faculty of Economics). French champion in 2019 and 2020, U23 world champion in 2021, she begins her senior career in 2022 with an impressive track record: world and European mixed relay champion in 2022, bronze medallist in the individual event at the 2022 European Championships and bronze medallist on the WTCS 2023 circuit.