2016 Olympics

USNA_Rugby16

5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Messages
2
Hello everyone,

I will be entering the Academy this upcoming summer as the class of '16 and had a quick question. If you qualify or are recruited for an olympic sport (rugby in my case), what is the academy's view on this? Are you released from the academy to become an olympian, or are you still enrolled and just finish late or take online classes? And what would happen to the madatory service after graduation?

Thank you everyone for your time.
 
Things change, but from my era I know that NAVY had a crew team that participated in the Olympics in the late 50's as I recall. Also, NAVY had a crew team that participated in some competitions in Europe. The saving grace in these events was that they occurred in the summer so they didn't interfere with the academic program. Not really sure what the current policy is, but would suspect that the prestige of the Olympics would be warrant special attention. Just conjecture on my part, though.
 
To add to my previous: you would remain enrolled and would be required to complete the academic requirements for graduation. If the training interfered with your academics you probably would be required to go to summer school or possibly complete your courses in the fall semester of the following ac year to graduate at the end of that semester. You would be running about 6-8 months behind your classmates. Your service requirements would be adjusted accordingly... but again, that is conjecture on my part, and bear no resemblance to what really happens.
 
Olympics

Considering the USNA was bragging, and rightfully so, about the 11 swimmers that recently qualified for the Olympic swim trails, they must be supportive.
 
A friend's son (USNA2009) has one lament from his experience: if he hadn't gone to NA he thinks he would have been in the Olymipics (and probably would have - he was the national champ in his sport as a HS Sr.)

Based on his experience, I doubt you'll get the necessary time off to attend all of the trainings/friendlies/qualifying matches necessary to be part of the team. Plus, Rugby doesn't start until 2016 so you'll be graduated by then so the real question is not wether the NA will let you attend but will Big Navy? (And its going to be 7-a-side so not many slots for a part timer, assuming the US even qualifies - a big IF given that there'll only be 12 countries competing.)

Said another way: if competing in the Olympics is a dream, the NA is not a great place to fulfill it.

Just my $0.02.
 
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