Champion on the Courts, Top of the Class
From school corridors in Ostrava to university excellence in the USA. Šimon Mališ inspires not only students, showing that nothing is impossible. With determination, discipline and passion, even the seemingly impossible can be combined – elite-level sport and academic success.
You set out on the path to the American dream, combining tennis with university studies. How have the knowledge and skills you gained at an international school helped you manage this demanding lifestyle?
From a language perspective, studying at ISO helped me enormously. Without a solid foundation in English, adapting to life in the USA would have been much more difficult. Thanks to the school, I understood everything in class from the very beginning, which gave me confidence. It also gave me discipline and the ability to communicate with people. Today, I can see that it was a huge step that opened the door for me to both study and compete in the United States.
Tennis is an individual sport, but university teams often function like a family. How does the team dynamic in the United States differ?
It’s completely different from back home. In the US, tennis is very much a team sport—when one individual makes a mistake, the whole team feels it. That’s why it’s important to bond, support one another and function as a family. Our goal is clear: to win the National Championship. We’ve come close before, finishing as runners-up, and I believe we can achieve it.
How challenging is it to balance your studies with your hobbies?
The schedule is so packed that I have to plan everything in detail. My day starts in the gym, followed by tennis practice, a quick meal and then classes. In the afternoon, there’s usually a run or another training session, and in the evening it’s back to studying and responsibilities. On top of that, there are regular grocery runs, cooking and taking care of the household, as we live on our own with teammates and manage everything ourselves. Every day is full and requires a great deal of discipline.
But when I do find some free time, I enjoy going to the beach with friends or relaxing by the campus pool.
How would you compare studying and life at an international school with what you are experiencing in the United States?
The biggest difference is that in America it’s simple—if you don’t do it yourself, it doesn’t get done. You have to take care of absolutely everything. I also see differences in the style of teaching and in the fact that responsibility rests much more on the student. On the other hand, the similarity lies in the approach and openness I experienced back in Ostrava, which is now helping me a great deal.
You’ve been at university for some time now. Is there anything you’ve learned on or off the court that you carry with you in life?
Definitely organisation. As our coach says, “being organised”. It means having everything planned, staying structured and not leaving things until the last minute. When your schedule is packed, this rule is absolutely essential. I’ve also learned to rely more on myself.
What advice would you give to current students who want to follow a similar path abroad?
It’s important to become independent—be ready to take care of yourself and rely primarily on your own sense of responsibility. That requires discipline and perseverance. Whether it’s school or sport, both are very demanding, and without these qualities, it’s simply not possible.