4 September 2016

Olympic Medals to UCPH Students

For most people, the Herculean task of completing a university degree is like winning an Olympic medal. For two of our current students, only the real thing was good enough. Meet Anne Dsane Andersen and Lærke Berg Rasmussen, who won an Olympic bronze medal together in Rio. 

When not rowing down the Lagoa Rodrige de Freitas competing for Olympic medals, Anne and Lærke are both studying at the University of Copenhagen. Anne studies political science, and Lærke public health – and both are now Olympic medallist, bringing home the bronze medal in women’s pair rowing. 

Eyes on the prize
Debutants in the Olympic Games with only 1.5 years of experience as a pair, the two young women make up a fairly new team. Arriving in Rio, the ambition was a modest place among the top-9. After around 7.5 minutes on the river in the finals, this modest ambition proved too modest. The secret ingredient, apart from enthusiasm and big muscles, is focus – something that the students are used to from home. 

Photo Team Danmark

Olympic knowledge
Having expert knowledge on everything from ball games and Zika virus to Olympic politics and Brazilian culture, UCPH has also focused on the great sports event. Of course taking part in the buzz of Mount Olympus, UCPH professors have been prominent in Danish media throughout the games.

Continental silver medal
This knowledge has enabled UCPH to provide students such as Anne and Lærke with world-class education. A testament to this is the release of the Shanghai Ranking’s for 2016, in which UCPH was rated 2nd on Continental Europe. Our goals are not modest, however, and we are determined to exchange that silver medal with one of gold.