Today's champions, tomorrow's legends. "Today's Stars, Tomorrow's Leaders" is one of the mottos of the World University Games. The biggest names in French and international sports have indeed participated in this competition, which is considered a real springboard for many young athletes. Many World University Games medalists have gone on to become Olympic medalists.

Organized every two years by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), alternating with the summer games, the World University Winter Games are the second largest winter multi-sport event after the Olympic Games. From 12 to 22 January 2023, nearly 1,500 student-athletes from 595 universities or schools participated in the 30^th World Winter Games in Lake Placid, USA, representing 43 countries.

Two gold, two silver and one bronze medals!

With a total of 18 medals (5 gold, 6 silver and 7 bronze), the French team simply shattered its record of medals (13) set in 2009 in China and finished 4^th nation in this the 30^th World University Winter Games.

UGA students have largely contributed to the success of the French team by returning from Lake Placid with no less than 5 medals: 2 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze.


Thomas Nabais and Marie Dupayage set the legendary Herb's Brooks Ice Rink on fire. The young ice dance couple won the gold medal in the discipline and the title of world university champions. Photo credit: © @guillaume.mirand - FFSU.

Emotional sequence: find the footage of the gold medal of Thomas Nabais and Marie Dupayage and their interview on the ice of the Lake Placid rink on the FISU webTV.


With his teammates in the 4 x 7, 5 km cross-country relay, Simon Chappaz also won gold and a historic medal for the French university team. Photo credit: © @guillaume.mirand - FFSU


In snowboardcross, Chloé Passerat and Kim Martinez achieved a double coup by winning a silver and bronze medal respectively. Photo credit: © @guillaume.mirand - FFSU


Finally, Julia Socquet-Dagoreau distinguished herself in alpine skiing with a silver medal in the combined event. Photo credit: © @guillaume.mirand - FFSU

The UGA team at the 30th World University Winter Games

Led by the French University Sports Federation (FFSU), the French delegation for these World University Winter Games was made up of 45 athletes, including 11 students from Université Grenoble Alpes, a quarter of the French delegation.

Figure skating

• Marie Dupayage, student in Psychology (L3) - UFR SHS: gold medal in ice dancing with Thomas Nabais
• Maïa Mazzara, student in the Mathematics and Computer Science degree program applied to Human and Social Sciences (L1) - UFR SHS: 18^th in individual skating
• Thomas Nabais, student in the Social Sciences degree program (L3): gold medal in ice dancing with Marie Dupayage

Speed skating

• Martin Belloir, student in the STAPS hybrid training program (L2) - UFR STAPS: 24^th in the mass start, 28^th in the 1,000m, 35^th in the 1,500m
• Mathieu Belloir, student in the Master's program STAPS training and optimization of sports performance (M1) - UFR STAPS: 13^th in the 1500 m, 15^th in the mass start

Alpine skiing

• Axelle Chevrier, tudent in Economics and Management (L1 in EAD) - Grenoble Faculty of Economics: 7^th in the giant slalom, 8^th in the combined
• Téa Lamboray, student in the STAPS Hybrid LiCenSe (L3) - UFR STAPS: 4^th in the super-G, 8^th in the giant slalom, 10^th in the slalom, 11^th in the combined
• Julia Socquet-Dagoreau, student in Hybrid LiCenSe Sports Training (L3) - UFR STAPS: Silver medal in the combined, 7^th in the super-G

Cross-country skiing

• Simon Chappaz, student in hybrid STAPS training (L1) - UFR STAPS: gold medal in the 4 x 7.5 km relay, 4^th in the mass start

Snowboard

• Kim Martinez, student in Hybrid LiCenSe STAPS sports training (L2) - UFR STAPS: bronze medal in snowboardcross
• Chloé Passerat, student in LiCenSe hybride STAPS entraînement sportif (L1) - UFR STAPS : silver medal in snowboardcross