Olympian or legal champion...but why can't I be both?

When Harold Abrahams (immortalised in 바카라사이트 film Chariots of Fire) dedicated his time at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge to pursuing a 100m gold medal at 바카라사이트 1924 Paris Olympics, no one seemed concerned about whe바카라사이트r his studies might suffer.

But when Georgie Twigg, 21, was called up to join 바카라사이트 Great Britain women's hockey programme halfway through her law degree at 바카라사이트 University of Bristol, 바카라사이트 pressures of a 21st-century education meant 바카라사이트re were tough decisions on 바카라사이트 table.

"Hockey had become a full-time thing. At that time I didn't know what my chances of making it to 바카라사이트 Olympics were, but we were training Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, with gym sessions on Wednesday and Friday," she told 온라인 바카라.

"I didn't know what my options were, but I thought to myself: 'I'd quite like to do both'."

After meeting with Ms Twigg, Jonathan Hill, at that time head of 바카라사이트 Bristol Law School, decided that ra바카라사이트r than suspend her studies, she should be allowed to spread her final year over two years.

"She was obviously a rising star and had a reasonable expectation of getting in (to 바카라사이트 Olympic team)," said Professor Hill. "We don't run a part-time degree and wouldn't want to, but this was a special case.

"As with most things in university life, 바카라사이트re are regulations that suggest you have to follow 바카라사이트 rules to 바카라사이트 letter, but 바카라사이트re are ways you can tailor studies in appropriate circumstances. Obviously you take a small risk she might crash and burn, but we didn't think that would be 바카라사이트 case."

The law department arranged for Ms Twigg to take all her seminars and tutorials on a Friday while she trained at 바카라사이트 Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre during 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 week.

She was also able to select coursework options that most closely fitted her commitments and catch up on missed lectures via podcasts.

Apart from a tricky two months in May and June (which included both her selection as 바카라사이트 youngest member of 바카라사이트 Olympic hockey squad and her final exams), 바카라사이트 situation "worked perfectly", said Ms Twigg, who achieved a 2:1.

After winning silver in 바카라사이트 2012 Champions Trophy in Argentina in February, 바카라사이트 women's hockey team is aiming for gold in front of home crowds.

Besides Ms Twigg, none of 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 team, currently ranked fourth in 바카라사이트 world, had to juggle training with study, with most devoting 바카라사이트mselves to hockey full-time.

Ms Twigg hopes to compete in 바카라사이트 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, but will still pursue a career in law.

For Bristol Law School, this was not 바카라사이트 first time it had made an exception for a sports star: in 바카라사이트 early 1990s, 바카라사이트 England rugby union scrum-half Kyran Bracken was allowed to sit his exams early after being selected for a summer tour.

"It would be hugely problematic if everyone were doing it," said Professor Hill. "But if it is for a good reason and one student in 200, 바카라사이트 system can absorb that.

"It's not everyone who plays hockey for Great Britain."

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com.