Bar-Ilan University Launches Excellence Program for Olympic Athletes
A new initiative, developed with the Olympic Committee, enables elite athletes to pursue full academic degrees while competing at the highest international level
What does excellence look like?
Sometimes it glides across open water, chasing the horizon. Sometimes it sits in a lecture hall, solving complex engineering problems. At Bar-Ilan University, it now does both.
Bar-Ilan has launched a pioneering Excellence Program for Olympic Athletes, a unique initiative designed to enable elite Israeli athletes to combine professional sports careers with full academic studies. Developed in partnership with the Olympic Committee, the program is tailored for athletes competing at the very forefront of international sport.
The University’s annual investment in the initiative is estimated at approximately one million shekels, a strategic commitment to talent, perseverance, and national pride.
A World Champion in the Faculty of Engineering
The first athlete selected for the pilot program is world champion sailor Shahar Tibi, the 2023 World Champion in wind surfing and an Olympic competitor. She has recently begun her undergraduate studies in the Faculty of Engineering at Bar-Ilan University.
Under the leadership of the Faculty team and Dean Prof. Orit Shefi, Tibi joins not only as an athlete of global stature, but as a student committed to academic excellence.
“Shahar is a model of excellence and inspiration both in the water and in academia,” said Prof. Shefi. “She embodies the vision of Bar-Ilan University and the Faculty of Engineering to integrate commitment, excellence, and long-term perseverance.”
Three Pillars of Excellence
The program is built on three core pillars designed to make academic achievement possible alongside the demanding reality of elite competition:
• Full or partial tuition funding
• Personalized academic mentorship
• Academic flexibility that adapts coursework requirements to the unique constraints of international competitive sport
These pillars cater to athletes competing on the world stage, who carry extraordinary physical, mental, and financial burdens. Their training schedules, international competitions, and recovery demands leave little room for rigid academic frameworks.
Prof. Arie Reich, Vice Rector and head of the program, emphasized the strategic significance of the initiative:
“Athletes at this level represent Israel internationally. They face exceptional physical and mental pressures, along with significant economic challenges. The University views them as a national asset and seeks to enable them to build a stable academic and professional future alongside their athletic careers.”
Beyond the Individual: Building a Culture of Excellence
Bar-Ilan’s vision is to strengthen a campus culture defined by aspiration, resilience, and long-term commitment. Olympic athletes bring with them a mindset forged in discipline, sacrifice, and the relentless pursuit of improvement, qualities that elevate the entire academic community.
In Tibi’s case, the program carries an additional layer of inspiration. The pilot was initiated by Ze’ev Cohen, a student in the Faculty of Engineering, who helped advance the idea from concept to reality. His initiative reflects another form of excellence: leadership from within the student body.
At Bar-Ilan University, excellence is not confined to laboratories, lecture halls, or sports arenas. It is a shared value, one that recognizes that greatness is built through dedication, adaptability, and vision.
And for many athletes like Shahar Tibi, the next finish line is only the beginning.