The Finnish Olympic Committee has awarded the “Sports School of the Year 2026” designation to Jyväskylä Educational Consortium Gradia. Gradia’s sports schools include Schildt sports high school and the sports department of Gradia vocational college.

Gradia has carried out long-term, impactful, and multifaceted work in supporting young athletes in pursuing dual careers. It has succeeded in creating an environment where competitive sports and high-quality education genuinely go hand in hand, both in vocational education and at the sports high school.

Gradia’s open and collaborative approach has been particularly valuable. The program has been developed in partnership with the Jyväskylä Sports Academy Network and local sports clubs, which has enabled innovative solutions for combining sports and studies. A good example of this is the Jyväskylä Basketball Academy, which works closely with young athletes to support them in their daily lives.

– Representatives of Gradia’s sports colleges would like to thank the Finnish Olympic Committee for this recognition. This recognition is a result of the work we do together with many different partners. That is why we would also like to thank our partners who are involved in supporting athletes on a daily basis, the staff of our schools, the Jyväskylä Sports Academy, Kihu, local sports clubs and their coaches, as well as the City of Jyväskylä’s Sports Department. All of these organizations are doing effective work to support young athletes in pursuing dual careers, say Mika Rantala, the vice principal in charge of the Sports High School’s operations, and Sports Coordinator Tuulevi Piesanen.

Gradia Schildt high school supports many athletes on their journey to the top of the world  

Eero Hirvonen, a Nordic combined athlete who graduated from Schildt high school in 2016, believes that high school played a significant role in his athletic career. Hirvonen won a bronze medal in the normal hill event and a silver medal in the team sprint at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. 

– High school made it possible for me to do many things that might have been left out in a different setting. Goal-oriented training and travel to competitions were a top priority for me, and it was great that the school fully supported this lifestyle as a top athlete, Hirvonen says.  

Although his exact career path wasn’t yet clear as he entered high school, Hirvonen saw the importance of his studies.  

– It was important to me to look a little further ahead. I feel that I was able to focus better on sports, too, knowing that I had another path running parallel to it. I wanted to approach high school in a way that would give me the opportunity to consider further studies that interested me.  

– It’s been great that I’ve been able to train professionally since high school while also preparing for life after sports. I’ve gained the skills for a second career, but I’ve also been able to give my all to sports alongside my high school studies, Hirvonen says, expressing his gratitude to his former school. 

– Gradia is an excellent example of how long-term collaboration can create a high-quality and safe daily environment for athletes, where both their studies and goal-oriented training can develop side by side. Gradia has boldly developed new operating models in collaboration with the sports academy and clubs, and has demonstrated a strong commitment to providing comprehensive support for young athletes, says Laura Tast, Senior Specialist at the Olympic Committee.

Contact us: 

Aki Karjalainen
Director of the Jyväskylä Sports Academy
email: aki.karjalainen@jklura.fi
tel. 0400 247 464