How These Student Athletes Are Balancing It All With Online School

If you or your child is a student athlete, then you know of the commitment it requires to succeed academically all while training professionally.

From training schedules, travel, and competitions, it can make it hard to stay on top of academics, and often one side ends up suffering.

But at Crimson Global Academy (CGA), students are finding a way to make it all work. How?

With a school that adjusts to their lives, rather than the other way around, young athletes are discovering they don’t have to choose between their goals on the field and their success in the classroom.

What makes CGA special is its flexibility. Students can attend live classes from anywhere or catch up on recordings if training gets in the way. Teachers work closely with them to make sure they stay on track, no matter how busy their schedules get.

It’s a solution that is proving invaluable for student-athletes around the world.

See it for yourself. Meet CGA's student athletes achieving it all, and learn how online schooling was the only option for them.

Goda, Illinois

Being a rhythmic gymnast requires Goda to follow a demanding training schedule, one that traditional schools couldn’t accommodate without sacrificing her education.

Her parents wanted more than just flexibility, they were searching for a school that offered the interaction and structured support Goda needed to succeed. That’s when they found CGA.

“CGA helps support my dreams better than a traditional school because it allows me to balance my rhythmic gymnastics training schedule better with my school schedule and it also offers a lot of different ways for me to interact with students from all around the world.”

With CGA’s adaptable learning, Goda can integrate her classes into her busy day. Whether attending one-on-one Da Vinci lessons or group classes, she has found teachers who are not only understanding of her schedule but also committed to her success.

“During public school, if I were to miss classes, I would have to go to a separate tutoring facility to make up all of my work and understand what I missed. But when I go to CGA, I can always watch the recordings and email all of my teachers with any questions that I have.”

Annie, Texas

Annie Huang, a gifted 10-year-old from Texas, joined CGA to find a school that matched her advanced academic abilities and personal ambitions.

Originally from China, Annie needed an environment that could keep up with her accelerated learning pace and support her extracurricular passions.

“CGA’s online learning has been a game-changer for me. It gives me the freedom to learn at my own pace, the support of amazing teachers, and the chance to be part of a global community.”

At CGA, Annie studies advanced courses like AP Computer Science, AP Biology, and AP Creative Engineering Design, which align with her long-term dream of becoming a neurosurgeon.

“The teachers design lessons that is well-organized and gradually builds on our understanding. This step-by-step approach helps deepen our knowledge and makes learning fun and memorable.”

But Annie’s talents extend outside of academic achievements.

As a professional fencer, she recently earned a bronze medal in the Y10 Women’s Saber category at the “Duel in Dallas” Regional Youth Circuit Tournament, competing against seasoned national champions with only 100 days of preparation.

Guido, Italy

Guido from Italy, spends most of his time on the road, travelling across Europe for kart racing competitions.

This year, he competed in the Rok Cup Superfinal, finishing 4th out of 101 racers from 46 countries.

Managing his racing schedule while studying full-time at CGA’s Pre-IGCSE level is no small task, but Guido has found a rhythm that works for him.

“My biggest challenge was balancing my racing and school commitments. I do physical training daily and kart weekends...CGA is very accommodating when I miss lessons. I love the fact that I can watch the recorded lessons that I missed…CGA’s online learning format suits me perfectly.”

Naomi, Florida

Naomi, a professional ballet dancer from Miami, Florida, has spent nine years dancing at the Miami City Ballet.

This year, she reached an exciting milestone by dancing en pointe and will perform in The Nutcracker for the third consecutive year.

At CGA, Naomi studies 8th-grade Math, Python Programming, and 7th-grade English, Social Studies, and Science. She values the flexibility CGA offers, allowing her to balance her ballet training with her studies seamlessly.

“CGA helps me academically, and provides me with a set of skills that complement my career. The flexibility of the class hours and that I can study from everywhere in the world while pursuing my ballet.”

Naomi appreciates CGA’s interactive online classes, which make concepts easier to grasp and feel more connected to real-world collaboration.

“CGA feels more like real-life work where people connect and work collaboratively with other people, located in different parts of the world!”

With dreams of attending an Ivy League university or Juilliard, Naomi aims to excel in music, singing, or dramatic arts.

Timmy, Dubai

In Dubai, 14-year-old Timmy is chasing his dream of becoming a professional tennis player. Ranked 20th in the Tennis European U14 standings, he trains tirelessly while working towards his A Levels at CGA.

“Online schooling gives me the flexibility to focus on my tennis career while still keeping up with my studies... and study anywhere around the world where there’s Wi-Fi, which is really helpful for an athlete.”

When Timmy is away for tournaments, he uses CGA’s recorded lessons to review what he’s missed and checks in with his teachers to make sure he’s prepared for upcoming assignments. His ultimate goal is to play at the highest level of tennis while earning a place at a top US university like Harvard or Stanford.

"When I was about 10 or 11 years old I asked my mom, what's the best university in the world and my mom said Harvard. After that I started searching Harvard on Google and I felt really interested. It's my dream to enrol in Harvard."

Caterina, Italy

Caterina, an equestrian from Italy, faced a tough balancing act as her competition schedule grew more intense.

Before joining CGA, she was homeschooled, but the lack of structure made it hard to keep up. Switching to CGA’s Da Vinci Programme allowed her to study at her own pace and focus on the subjects that mattered most to her future.

Having studied A Levels with CGA, Caterina says the independence she developed has made the transition to university much smoother. She is pursuing a degree in equestrian studies in the Netherlands while continuing to compete.

“Having this online school experience where I needed to be a bit more responsible, schedule my own days… it made me more responsible. And now that I’m in university, I need no time to adjust.”

Why CGA is the Top Choice for Student Athletes

• Flexible Scheduling: Live, real-time classes are offered across time zones, with the ability to review class recordings, ensuring students never fall behind despite busy training or competition schedules.
• Personalised Learning: Students can progress at their own pace and tailor their academic plans to suit their career ambitions, thanks to CGA’s globally recognised curricula, including International GCSEs, A Levels, and Advanced Placement (AP).
• Global Community: CGA’s online classrooms connect students with peers and teachers worldwide, creatomg a network of like-minded, driven individuals.
• Elite Teacher Support: Experienced educators provide personalised attention, ensuring students excel in both their studies and their athletic pursuits.