An Italian success and top marks for the FederCUSI expedition (219 athletes from 57 universities competing in 15 different disciplines). In the 32nd edition of the FISU World University Games, held from 16th to 27th July in the German Rhine-Ruhr region, Italy won 43 medals (14 gold, 10 silver, 19 bronze), finishing 5th in the overall medal table and proving to be the best national team from the Old Continent. The University of Trieste also played its part in Italy's triumphant trip, with seven students making their mark in Germany with medals, impressive rankings and defeats with their heads held high.

The cover story must go to Tommaso Vianello (Strategy, Consultancy and Business Logistics – DEAMS), who, together with Martina Fanfani (University of Genoa), Alice Ramella (University of Genoa) and Lorenzo Baldo (University of Padua), was part of the Mixed Quadruple Sculls team that dominated the final with some serious vigour. The Italian team clocked a time of 6:38.39, leaving Germany (silver in 6:40.12) and Lithuania (bronze in 6:46.41) behind them and winning a wonderful gold medal. The trio of water polo players Emma De March (Science and Technology for the Environment and Nature), Giorgia Klatowski (Law) and Guya Zizza (Psychology) also returned home with a medal in their suitcases, namely bronze. After overcoming the always tricky hurdle of the initial group stage, the Italian women's water polo team defeated Turkey 20-5 in the quarter-finals, but then lost to the United States in the semi-finals, who prevailed on penalties. In the bronze medal match, the Italian team more than redeemed themselves, defeating New Zealand 10-5, led by three goals each from Sbruzzi and Klatowski, confirming their place on the Universiade podium for the third consecutive edition after the silver medals in Naples 2019 and Chengdu 2023, and another bronze in Kazan 2013.

Returning to rowing, Ilaria Corazza (Political and Administrative Sciences) performed well in the women's single sculls. The reigning Italian champion in the sport, after qualifying in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals, finished in sixth place in the final. UniTS was also present in archery (compound speciality) with Elisa Bazzichetto (Biology and Biotechnology) and Antonio Brunetto (Naval Engineering). Bazzichetto was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the team competition with Francesca Aloisi and Andrea Nicole Moccia and in the second round of the individual competition. Brunetto, who was eliminated in round of 24 of the individual tournament, failed to reach the medal round in the team competition with Andrea Marchetti and Roberto Sottile after losing to Taipei in the quarter-finals.

Seven UniTS students being present at the recent Universiade as well as winning two precious medals was applauded by the entire academic community, including the University Sports Committee (CSU), the institutional body that oversees the University's sporting activities. The Committee promotes the development of dual career programmes, created to facilitate students who are committed to both a competitive sporting career and a university course through various means (e.g. university fee waivers, dedicated exam rounds, the possibility of having a tutor).

‘The results of the 2025 Universiade,’ emphasised Pierluigi Barbieri, temporary Chair of UniTS CSU, ‘once again confirm the great teamwork that all Italian universities are increasingly promoting to give students the opportunity to pursue ambitious goals both in their studies and in sports. In Italy, the development of sporting identity has become a priority, and it is clear that sport is synonymous with the image and well-being of the entire academic community.’ UniTS is also doing its part in this work, as evidencedby the number of dual career applications: ‘In 2024,’ continues Barbieri, 'we approved nine applications, while in 2025, 18 applications have been accepted with another pending. This shows that the University of Trieste is on the right track, putting its various skills to good use and seeking to become increasingly attractive to student athletes. We do not have a Sports Science course, but we do have many excellent degree (e.g. physiotherapy, life sciences, courses related to medicine, physiology, technology) that can interact with sporting activities. Let us not forget that every university does not only work on sports excellence but also seeks to promote sports as widely as possible, a clear example of which being the daily activity of our CUS.’