The Science of Sailing: Lara Vadlau’s Career

Amanda Dunkel-Grimus ()
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Amanda Dunkel-Grimus: WU Vienna University of Economics and Business

Chapter Chapter 13 in Contemporary Careers and Occupational Fields, 2026, pp 209-228 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract This chapter explores the extraordinary dual career of Lara Vadlau, an Austrian sailor and physician whose journey encapsulates the motto ‘Escape the ordinary’. Vadlau’s path is unique not only because of her world-class achievements in competitive sailing—including an Olympic gold medal—but also because of her academic excellence, having completed her medical degree in record time. An interview conducted 2024 was analysed using the Social Chronological Framework (Gunz & Mayrhofer, 2018), integrating insights from career research and media analysis. Vadlau’s narrative emphasises the importance of early specialisation, unwavering discipline, and family support in both sports and academia. Her experience sheds light on the explicit and implicit ‘rules of the field’ in elite sports and medicine, revealing how social and economic capital, mental resilience and strategic planning can lead to success in such demanding areas. Her journey offers a compelling case study of ambition, adaptability and the pursuit of excellence in multiple fields.

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:sprchp:978-3-032-06270-3_13

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-06270-3_13

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