Champions at the heart of the Olympics: Corvinus Wins the International Olympic Case Study Competition
Business and Management students Andrei Krajuhin, Gergely Ganyecz, and Kseniia Pyzhova and International Business Student Desislava Dostinova represented Corvinus University of Budapest at the International Olympic Case Study Competition in Lausanne, Switzerland, the home of the International Olympic Committee. Full Professor Miklós Stocker and Associate Professor Zsolt Havran were co-advising the team. The competition placed the teams in the unique position of solving real-world challenges relevant to the Olympic movement today. The topic of this years’ edition of the competition was: “Accompanying and Supporting Young Elite Athletes” which pushed the Corvinus team well beyond the boundaries of the traditional business case format. After qualifying from the university level, our team win again in the semi-finals and could win the whole competition in Lausanne ahead of Universidad Europea Madrid (ESP), University of Guelph (CAN) and University of Syracuse (USA).
The team was no stranger to high-stakes international competition, having competed together previously on the prestigious Thammasat Undergraduate Business Challenge competition in Bangkok. The students arrived in Lausanne with a strong foundation of mutual trust and a deep understanding of each other’s strengths. Their preparation on the Cases on International Business Strategy (CIBS) and Cases in Business Strategy (CBS) courses, part of the Corvinus’ Case Track, provided the analytical backbone they would rely upon throughout the competition. Yet what set IOCSC apart was the degree to which it demanded a complete rethinking of their approach.
This competition truly made us step out of our comfort zone. We had a lot of practice in solving for-profit cases, but this was sport management. The focus was a lot more on the human side and the social impact, rather than financials. This proved to be a unique learning experience, that really helped improve our messaging in this regard.
(Desislava Dostinova)
The competitors were tested to solve the case of Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique. This required a different viewpoint than the team was used to before, but the team embraced it as an opportunity to demonstrate the versatility that sets great case solvers apart.
Adapting to a completely new case format, sports-oriented audience, and subject area pushed us to think differently and I believe that fresh mindset is what made the win possible.
(Kseniia Pyzhova)
Throughout the competition, the team’s dynamics proved to be one of their most powerful assets. Having competed together on the international circuit before, they had long moved past the early, tentative stages of building a team identity. Roles were instinctive, communication was fluid, and the shared experience of the previous competition meant that under pressure, each member knew exactly how to support the others. The result was a seamless, cohesive performance in the presentation room.
One of our greatest strengths as a team was the deep mutual trust we had built through competing together before. We knew each other’s rhythms, instincts, and ideas so well that when it came to presenting, everything flowed naturally, coming together into one captivating story.
(Gergely Ganyecz)
When the results were announced, the Corvinus team stood at the top. Winning in Lausanne, a city that is synonymous with the Olympic movement and international sport governance, carried a significance that went far beyond a competition podium. For each member of the team, it was a moment of deep personal and collective pride: a testament to months of work, to the mentorship of the advisors and support of the entire Case Track community, and to the spirit of representing Hungary on the world stage.
Winning in Lausanne, at the heart of the Olympic movement, is something I will never forget. This is the result of our team’s incredible hard work, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we achieved together while representing Hungary and Corvinus on the international podium. I hope this brings a little joy back home, and shows what Hungarian students can achieve on the world stage.
(Andrei Krajuhin)
The CSC was not only a competition but the organizers from the International Olympic Committee Study Centre made a rich educational experience also with learning and personal growth, aligned well with the Olympic values and let the participants to understand the need to balance the mind and body.
Although this was not in the selection criteria, nor we put too much emphasis on it during the preparation period, but our team was very well aligned with Olympic movements’ values of excellence, respect and friendship
(Prof. Miklós Stocker)
The competition will be launched again in the next academic year, with the new focus strongly connected to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The aim of Corvinus University’s Sports Management specialization and the new International Sports Business master’s program is to offer its students the same international opportunities as the world’s best sports management programs. Next year, the organizers look forward to welcoming both Corvinus undergraduate and graduate students – we will provide every support possible to ensure our students can travel to Lausanne again.
(Associate Professor Zsolt Havran)
Congratulations to Andrei Krajuhin, Desislava Dostinova, Gergely Ganyecz, and Kseniia Pyzhova and their advisors Professor Miklós Stocker and Associate Profess Zsolt Havran on this extraordinary achievement! We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to all other Case Track professors (Balázs Fejes, Dániel Kostyal, Miklós Kozma, Zsolt Matyusz, Bence Pistrui, Zoltán Stokinger), invited jury guests at the practice presentations, and CCTC mentors whose support and dedication made this result possible. We cannot wait to see where our teams will represent Corvinus next!
Photo: © IOC/Christophe Moratal