Carving the Path: How Andréa Do-Duc Helps Student-Athletes Balance Ice and Academics

From June 27 to July 3, the Pinnacle Speed Skating Program brought together 52 athletes from across North America for a transformative summer camp at the Pettit National Ice Center. This weeklong experience enhanced the skills and broadened horizons for many young aspiring skaters.

Among these events was a special seminar led by Andréa Do-Duc, US Speedskating’s Short Track Program Director, who emphasized that success in sport is about more than medals. It’s about balance, discipline, and long-term growth. 

Having studied and skated at the same time, Andréa understands the challenge of being both a student and an athlete. Her first message to skaters is that “it’s definitely possible to balance both skating and school at the same time. With the right support, planning, and mindset, we can help you succeed in both.” she says. 

Andréa strongly believes in proactivity. “Be the first one to reach out to your professors or teachers. They’re far more accommodating when you take the initiative,” she says.

Julie Letai, a 2022 Olympian, has found this to be essential as well. She believes that: “I let my teachers know my travel schedule as early as possible. Then I follow up before competitions in case there’s anything I need to adjust.”

Kristen Santos-Griswold, a 2025 World Champion and now in graduate school, shares her success with proactive communication. “As long as I’m putting in the work, my professors have been incredibly helpful. Whether it's sending class recordings or adjusting schedules when needed, I just have to be upfront and honest.”

Andréa also helps skaters chart a path from regional races to junior/senior international events and the Olympic Games, as well as connecting skaters to resources like tuition aid, training grants, and flexible schedules. But success comes from more than speed. “We look for athletes who are accountable, resilient, team-oriented, passionate, and proactive on and off the ice,” she says.

Family support is another cornerstone of long-term success. Brandon Kim, a computer science major at Stanford and national team member, shares that “My family helps guide me with everything. From career decisions to covering tuition and travel, that support lets me pursue my goals fully.”

Andréa encourages athletes to challenge themselves, embrace the process, both on and off the ice, by keeping an open mind, learning from their experiences, missteps and setbacks. “Each setback is a step forward if you’re learning from it.” Julie learned this firsthand: “I once took too many classes and was overwhelmed. The next time, I scaled back, and everything, from skating to school, got better.”

And for all the younger skaters, Kristen offers this: “Find what works for you. My path has been different from everyone else’s, but I wouldn’t be as strong in either school or skating without doing it my way.”

Overall, Andréa Do-Duc’s leadership is helping shape more than elite athletes. She’s helping build confident and resilient individuals, who are ready to carve their path on the ice and far beyond it.