EUSA Insider:

Olga Maznichenko

Age:                   26

Place of Birth:  Mirgorod, Ukraine

University:        Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University (UKR)

Published: 20 March 2018

Briefly describe how and why you got involved in Basketball?

I started to play basketball when I was 13 years old. Before that I didn’t even think about that. I was invited to a practice because I was tall. And you can say that after the first practice I couldn’t stop.

"The most important thing is to have a plan how to combine studying and doing sports and to respect it."

What do you study? How do you balance your study, training and competitions?

I am studying sport psychology and I have to admit that it’s not easy to balance everything. The most important thing is to have a plan how to combine studying and doing sports and to respect it. 

Tell us about your experience at the 2017 European Championship of Universities. Is this your first time at an EUSA event?

It was the first time for me to attend an European Universities Championship and it was unforgettable. Split is a very beautiful city. Especially that the court was in the city center next to the sea. The fans were great and everything was so amazing. Hope I’ll come back there again. 

"(...) you have to be aware that your career doesn’t last forever and without a diploma you reduce your chances to find a good job."  

In 2018 will be held the European University Games 2018 in Coimbra, Portugal, do you expect to be there? Why do you think sports events are important?

We don’t know yet because the coach will decide who goes, but I hope that we will have a chance to defend the title. Portugal is a beautiful country like Croatia and I would really like to be there. Universities sports events should be important for students. First, it is an international competition, you can meet new friends with similar interest. Other thing is that you can have fun, enjoy and rest a bit after lectures and exams. 

 This is your chance! What is your message to European students like you?

You have to think about your future. When you are a young athlete you have to be aware that your career doesn’t last forever and without a diploma you reduce your chances to find a good job. You don’t need a better reason to focus and study.

EUSA would like to congratulate Olga and her teammates from Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University team on their gold medal performance in Split.  We hope to see you compete at European Universities Games Coimbra 2018!

Find out more about Coimbra 2018.