#WEAREHEC - Going for gold in sports and studies: the inspiring story of Rémi Schyns
Rémi Schyns’ journey from the Belgian countryside to high-level athletics and HEC Paris is a testament to his dedication, resilience, and ambition. He is not only rising to the demands of the Master in Management, but is also chasing athletic success in the 3000m steeplechase. Rémi's inspiring story highlights the importance of being able to bounce back after setbacks and pursuing your dreams. In this article, we take a closer at how Rémi has successfully navigated these dual paths, his journey to HEC Paris, and his aspirations for both his sporting and professional career.
The road to HEC Paris
Rémi grew up in a small village in Belgium where he completed all his high school studies. From a young age, he practiced a lot of different sports - football, basketball, swimming, and tennis. However, it wasn’t until the age of 16 that Rémi found his true calling in athletics - in the 3000m steeplechase – one of the toughest events. Rémi’s performances improved rapidly, enabling him to qualify for the under 18 European Championships, where he won a bronze medal.
Despite his growing passion for athletics, Rémi was also determined to successfully continue his studies. This dual interest led him to seek a place where he could combine his sporting ambitions with his academic pursuits. Although not impossible, it was difficult to achieve that balance in Belgium. He found the opportunity he was looking for in the United States, when he was offered a scholarship to Eastern Kentucky University. This university provided the perfect combination of high-level athletics and academics, allowing him to pursue a bachelor’s degree in international business and supply chain while developing his athletic potential.
For Rémi, his time in the U.S. was a truly enriching experience. The initial culture shock, linguistic barriers, and the jump into the unknown were challenging, but the warm and open American culture quickly helped him to adapt. He thrived in the highly selective and competitive NCAA system, which allowed him to compete at the highest level while balancing his studies. The coaches were demanding, and the training was tough, but all the hard work paid off and Rémi was able to make significant progress.
A New Academic Challenge
After completing his bachelor’s degree, Rémi set his sights on further academic challenges. The next logical step for him was to pursue a master’s degree and for several reasons HEC Paris was the obvious choice. He was not only attracted by the school’s global reputation for academic excellence but also the unique opportunity it offers to combine both academic and personal projects. For Rémi, the Master in Management was the perfect option. It enabled him to focus on all the key areas of management in the first year, take a professional gap year to gain invaluable working experience, take a personal gap year to focus on athletics, and then specialize in his final year.
During his professional gap year Rémi joined the Addidas supply chain head office team in Switzerland as an intern. Working closely with such high-level professionals was an amazing learning experience that allowed him to discover the challenges and rewards of company life from the inside. It also enabled to have a clearer idea of the areas he needed to develop and that is why he has opted for Master in International Finance as his Major for his final year at HEC Paris
Rémi is convinced that HEC Paris offers an environment where you can flourish, both academically and personally. The concentration of amazing people on campus with such interesting and diverse projects really pushes you to think differently and achieve your goals. The school's active encouragement of extracurricular activities and support for individual projects has given him the flexibility to pursue athletics alongside his studies.
The Olympic dream
Rémi decided to take a personal gap year to focus exclusively on athletics and qualify for 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. To optimize his chances, he changed coach and joined the team of Sophie Duarte, a former professional athlete with deep expertise in the steeplechase.
The steeplechase is a challenging event that requires a combination of endurance, speed, strength, and technical ability. Athletes must cover 3000 meters while clearing hurdles and water jumps, making it one of the most demanding middle-distance races in track and field. Rémi’s training involves running between 100 and 140 kilometers per week, speed workouts, strength training, and technical practice with hurdles. The attention to detail required for each of these components is immense. Adequate rest, physiotherapy, and mental preparation are just as crucial to his success as the kilometers he logs on the track.
After joining Sophie Duarte’s training group, Rémi saw significant improvements in his performance. The group aspect played a key role as his teammates motivated him to train harder and push his limits. Being able to focus on optimizing all aspects of his training—physical, mental, and technical—led to a breakthrough season. He improved his personal best by 13 seconds and was well on his way to qualify for the Olympics. Unfortunately, a ruptured Achilles tendon during the European Championships in Rome brought his Olympic dreams to and end. Rémi knows that this is one of the cruel aspects of high-level sports, but also knowing that he can bounce back from every setback has made him stronger.
Sporting and Career Ambitions
The setback of his Achilles injury hasn’t diminished his passion for the steeplechase. Rémi believes that he has yet to reach his full potential and is now setting his sights on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. His immediate goals include qualifying for and competing in the European and World Championships. Having already competed in the U.S. and at European level, he is eager to test himself on the global stage.
In terms of his career, Rémi is exploring various possibilities. He knows that his Master’s degree from HEC Paris will open up a wealth of opportunities, and is considering a career in consulting or a similar field where he can leverage his unique combination of athletic, academic and professional experiences. Rémi is convinced that being a high achiever in sports is valued in the job market - it gives you an edge and teaches you skills that are highly transferable to the corporate world.
Rémi’s journey is one of resilience, commitment, and the pursuit of excellence. He has shown that with the right mindset it is possible to succeed both academically and in athletics and his story serves as an inspiration to those who believe they must choose between one path or the other.