Šampion na kurtech, premiant ve škole
102 ǀ POSITIV MAN 2026
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 determinaon, 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.
Responsibility rests much more
on the student. On the other hand,
the similarity lies in the approach
and openness.
He studied at the 1ˢᵗ Internaonal School of Ostrava
and is now making his mark on both the university
courts and in the academic sphere in the United
States. At Flagler College, he is studying Internaonal
Business while also ranking among the elite
of collegiate tennis. He has been named Player
of the Year, features in the First Team for both Singles
and Doubles, and is among the top performers
academically.
| Text: Monika Ševčíková, foto: Šimon Mališ