12 DTU athletes in university Olympics

By Mie Borggreen Winther

Held every second year and with its more than 12,800 participants, the Universiade is the second-largest sports event in the world, surpassed only by the Olympic Games. Even though elite athletes from universities all over the world will meet for the 29th time at the August event, Danes still ask “Universi-what?” when Design and Innovation student Simon Darville tells them that he will be participating in the Danish delegation as a weightlifter. He is part of a team consisting of a delegation of 70 Danish athletes—with 12 students representing DTU at Universaide 2017 in Taiwan’s capital, Taipei.

“University sports aren’t as big over here as for example in Asia and the USA. Over there, elite sport enjoys an easier passage through the college system and the military, but here in Denmark, sport and studies are kept apart,” explains Simon Darville.

For this reason, participation in the Universiade previously hinged on personal initiative, without any formal organization of Danish students. This year, however, Aarhus University has organized the Danish representatives.

Incredibly proud
Being selected for the Danish delegation is no ‘formality’ even when you compete daily at both national and international level.

The athletes’ respective federation must approve the participants’ level before they are given the honour of representing Denmark, but all 12 DTU students managed to make the grade and are now incredibly proud to represent not only Denmark, but also DTU,” says Simon Darville.