From FSPORT CU to the world: Emma Libová’s story
Sport has been in her blood since childhood, but her path to the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport at Comenius University Bratislava (FSPORT CU) was far from straightforward. Now in the final year of her master’s degree, she is bringing one of the International University Sports Federation’s projects to Slovakia in her role as an international student ambassador. Emma shares her beginnings, her experiences at a prestigious sports university in Norway, and why she believes every child should be encouraged to be physically active.
Sport was a natural part of Emma’s home life from an early age. “Both my parents studied at FSPORT CU. My mum is a primary school teacher, and my dad has worked for the Olympic Committee for 25 years. Because both our parents were active in sport, my brother and I grew up skiing, cycling, swimming in the summer and always being on the move,” she recalls.
Although studying at the same faculty might seem to have been an obvious choice, the opposite was true. “It was quite funny: I really wanted to study psychology, but it didn’t work out. So I ended up at FSPORT CU studying coaching and physical education teaching. Now I’m in my final year, and looking back, I think it’s just as well I didn’t get into psychology,” Emma says with a smile.
Her own sporting journey has been remarkably varied. As a child, she started with gymnastics, spent seven years swimming, and also played tennis, golf and volleyball. But she discovered her greatest passion in her early teens. “I took up canoe sprint and competed for 13 years. I also qualified as an official, and now I’m an announcer at kayaking races, including international events in English. I’m still out on the water here in Norway during my Erasmus exchange, where I’m training in dragon boating.”
From FISU’s Swiss headquarters to an ambitious project at CU
Emma’s experience extends well beyond her studies in Bratislava. After completing her bachelor’s degree, she extended her studies by a year to undertake an internship at the headquarters of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) in Switzerland. During her internship, she helped organise the Winter World University Games in Turin, Italy, among other activities. She also took part in the Young Olympic Ambassadors programme in Olympia, Greece, and joined a year-long FISU education programme.
It was in Switzerland that she first encountered the Healthy Campus project. “It’s a global university programme aimed at improving the well-being and health of the entire university community. Students today are looking for more than a quality education: they also value a pleasant, balanced environment. The number of criteria a university meets gives a clear indication of how it looks after its people, while examples of good practice from abroad show us how important this is to young people. The programme has a hundred criteria across seven categories. If a university meets at least forty of them, it receives the Healthy Campus Label, a kind of Michelin star for universities,” Emma explains.
More than 200 universities worldwide are currently involved in the project, but none in Slovakia as yet. “I’ve secured the support of the Rector and the Dean of FSPORT CU. Launching this project will be the focus of both my action plan and my master’s thesis. It’s about the entire academic community, including students, teaching staff, PhD students and other employees. The aim is to create a university environment that supports healthier lifestyles, physical activity and overall well-being.”
Drawing inspiration from abroad and helping young people develop
Emma is currently fulfilling a long-held dream by studying in Oslo through Erasmus+ at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, one of the world’s three best sports universities. “The digital technology, facilities and approach to studying are all outstanding here. Alongside my studies, I also get involved in local events, for example by volunteering at the marathon and at the hugely popular and rapidly growing HYROX competition in Oslo,” she adds.
Alongside her international activities, developing sport in Slovakia remains close to her heart, particularly among children and young people. She is involved in Odznak všestrannosti (Versatility Badge), a national all-round fitness badge project organised by the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee.
“Every child in the world should be encouraged to be physically active. Physical activity teaches children to measure themselves against their friends in a positive way, support one another, motivate themselves and others, and unwind. The years between roughly 10 and 15 are a critical period: children either decide to stick with sport or choose other activities that often involve no physical activity. That’s precisely why projects like Odznak všestrannosti are so important.”
Where will she go after completing her master’s degree at FSPORT CU? “Teaching doesn’t appeal to me that much, but I’ll definitely stay involved in sport. I’ve discovered that I really enjoy organising sports events and event management. I gained experience at the European Junior Canoeing Championships, at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Banská Bystrica, and at the World University Games in Italy and Germany. After graduating, I’d like to go abroad, perhaps to one of the sports federations in Switzerland. But I wouldn’t rule out returning to Slovakia, where I’d like to help develop and improve sports events,” Emma Libová concludes.
Photo 1: Hosting the international sprint canoe competition in Bratislava
Photo 2: Emma at the FISU headquarters in Lausanne with FISU President Leonz Eder (left) and former FISU Secretary General Eric Saintrond (right)
Photo 3: Volunteering at the HYROX race in Oslo, Norway