They are fantastic at their sport and great at their studies. They pursue dual careers, being part time future businesswomen, doctors or hotel managers and part time karatekas or futsal players. Meet our inspiring student-athletes.
Meet Jorge Braz, a futsal coach from Portugal who cares deeply about his players and always remembers to consider them as people and not just as athletes.
Meet Rhea Doummar (21), a business student at St Joseph University in Beirut and Ali Hamam (24), who studies Hotel Management at the Islamic University of Lebanon. Both are from Lebanon and speak honestly and openly about the difficulties their country is currently facing but also about the sheer pleasure of playing futsal and the honour they felt to represent their country at the Warsaw 2026 FISU World University Championsip.
Meet Natacha Fernandes, the strong-willed karateka from Portugal who cares as much about performing a perfect routine as about looking after her patients and becoming the best doctor possible. She shares her motivations, her difficulties and also her right to take a couple of days off from training to preserve her mental health.
And if you carry on following our Mind & Body series, you’ll also meet Leo Faytre, the captain of the French futsal team and Joao Antonio Rocha, a jiu-jitsu student-athlete. They each talked about the ups and downs of embarking on a dual career between two matches in Poland and in Brasilia.
A Coach’s Responsibility – Episode 1
“Dual careers are is decisive for what they can be in the future and not only as athletes but especially as professionals. We always want them to be a great student, or a great athlete. But above all they are people, human beings. We must never forget that”.
Jorge Braz is a sort of father-figure. He cares deeply about his players and admits that caring about their professional careers once their sporting careers are over is far too late.
“Us coaches have a huge responsibility on helping the young kids have the right mindset”.
for the flag – episode 2
“At home, we have been going from crisis to crisis without really having a break, so of course this affects my life as a student-athlete” says Rhea Doummar. “We weren’t even sure we’d manage to travel to Warsaw. It was very stressful but our passion and our hunger to represent our country made us get there!”
“We want to show our best performance for ourselves but also for the country”, echoes Ali Hamam. “Every game is a final for us! We managed to draw against France, who are 10th in the world and we are only number 72! We play with our hearts before we play with our legs!”
doctor karate – episode 3
“I don’t think you can really separate the student from the athlete. This sport rules my whole life. I am just a student who is trying to be the best doctor for my patients.”
Natacha Fernandes mentions her country’s super star when she talks about mindset. “In my sport I have to believe I am the best, even if it’s not the case. Cristiano Ronaldo knows that!”
She speaks about the special relationship she shares with her coach and fitting time with her friends and family into her super busy schedule as a karateka and a future doctor.
Episode 4 of Mind & Body will be shared on 2 October – don’t miss it!
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