Studentensport Vlaanderen has presented its annual awards to students who have successfully combined their academic careers with top sporting achievements. This year, awards were given for Sports College Student and Sports University Student.
The title Sports College Student 2025-2026 goes to Laurens Devos, a G-table tennis player who graduated from UCLL University of Applied Sciences in Leuven with a Bachelor's degree in Business Management, specializing in Finance & Insurance. Devos, who has won a Paralympic gold medal in Tokyo and Paris, among other achievements, seamlessly combined his top sports career with his studies.
The award ceremony held special symbolic meaning for Laurens Devos. He was surprised with the distinction at Brussels Airport just before his departure for the World Championships of G-table tennis in Thailand. A small delegation from Studentensport Vlaanderen, UCLL staff, including general director Marc Vandewalle, and representatives from G-Sport Vlaanderen bid him farewell. This served not only as a recognition of Devos's achievements as a top athlete and student but also as an encouragement for his next sporting challenge.
Laurens Devos expressed his satisfaction with the award. "I am extremely happy, as I am competing against strong contenders and succeeding Matthias Casse. It's a great signal that a Paralympian can win this award, and indeed has won it," he said. "It's a recognition of my combination of top sport and studies. I have always experienced this positively and am grateful to my fellow students, as they have often helped me."
Marc Vandewalle, general director of UCLL University of Applied Sciences, presented the award to Laurens, emphasizing his school's pride. "We are proud of his sporting achievements, especially those during his studies, including two Paralympic titles. It is also wonderful that we are putting G-sport in the spotlight like this."
Peter De Potter, Laurens's lecturer in the Finance and Insurance specialization at UCLL University of Applied Sciences in Leuven, was present in Zaventem. "I find it important to express my recognition for his achievements and the path he took as a student. As a student, he was 'part of the team'. Someone with great dedication. Proof of this is his internship, where he also performed at a very high level."
The other nominees in the college category were Cériel Desal (cycling/VIVES), Jenno Beckmoes (cycling/HOGENT), and Liam De Smet (gymnastics/Arteveldehogeschool).
Among universities, Koen Naert, a marathon runner who graduated from UGent, was named Sports University Student 2025-2026. He also combined his degree with an impressive international career, including participation in the Olympic Games in Tokyo and Paris. Koen Naert will receive his award at UGent later this sports season.
The laureates were chosen based on a standardized scoring system, taking into account the highest sporting achievements during their study trajectory.
The award was first presented in the 1986-1987 academic year to Herman Bruyninckx (basketball/KU Leuven).
Previous winners of the Sports College Student award include Matthias Casse (2024-2025), Mina Libeer (2023-2024), Alexander Doom (2022-2023), and Chloé Vande Velde (2021-2022). Among the Sports University Students, Hanne Desmet (2024-2025), Arthur De Sloover (2023-2024), and Noor Vidts (2022-2023) were among those who preceded them.
