World Champion Cyclist Yareli Acevedo Nears Degree, Balancing Elite Sport and Academia

Yareli Acevedo, a world champion in track cycling, is on the cusp of completing her administration degree at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Her journey reflects a remarkable dedication to balancing elite athletics with higher education.

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When I was little, I played a lot with these parts of doctor and doctor. So, it was my dream to be a surgeon.

Acevedo's initial aspiration was to become a surgeon. "When I was little, I played a lot with these parts of doctor and doctor. So, it was my dream to be a surgeon," she recalled in an interview. However, her coach recognized her exceptional talent in cycling and advised her that pursuing medicine alongside high-performance training would be exceedingly difficult.

"My coach saw many qualities in me for cycling. So, he helped me and told me very sincerely: 'If you train well, we'll have a good process, you could do great things, but if you study medicine, it will be very complicated,'" Acevedo shared. Following this advice, she took aptitude tests to find an alternative academic path that could accommodate her demanding sports career.

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My coach saw many qualities in me for cycling. So, he helped me and told me very sincerely: 'If you train well, we'll have a good process, you could do great things, but if you study medicine, it will be very complicated.'

Administration emerged as a suitable choice. "I saw that I was very good at administration. I really liked the career. I found marketing as an area of opportunity for me, both personally and in sports," she explained. Despite finding a compatible field, the dual commitment remained a significant challenge. Unlike her peers, Acevedo had to meticulously schedule classes, training, competitions, travel, and recovery, often extending her undergraduate studies beyond the typical four years.

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I saw that I was very good at administration. I really liked the career. I found marketing as an area of opportunity for me, both personally and in sports.

"I didn't do four years of licenciatura, as a university student normally does; it took many more years to pursue study and competition and high performance simultaneously. Not living my university stage hurt me," she admitted, highlighting the personal sacrifices made to excel in both disciplines.

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I didn't do four years of licenciatura, as a university student normally does; it took many more years to pursue study and competition and high performance simultaneously. Not living my university stage hurt me.