Chasing orienteering ambitions while building a career in software
American orienteer Anthony Riley combines elite-level sport with a Master’s degree in Software Engineering Management at the University of Gothenburg. He came to Gothenburg and Swedish National Sports University (RIU) Gothenburg to develop both academically and athletically, taking advantage of Sweden’s strong orienteering environment while preparing for a future career where software and endurance sports can meet.
Orienteering has been part of Anthony Riley’s life for as long as he can remember.
– I don't remember my first orienteering course since I was in a baby carrier being carried by my mom so I’ve been doing it for a long time. It's quite common for orienteers to have one or both parents doing the sport too.
That early start has since developed into competing at the highest international level.
– I have represented the US National Team many times, both as a junior and a senior, at the Junior World Orienteering Championships and the World Orienteering Championships. I achieved the best-ever US result in the World Championships middle distance in Kuopio, and was recently part of the best-performing US relay team at the orienteering World Cup in Czechia.
A passion for problem-solving
Alongside elite sport, Anthony is pursuing a Master's degree in Software Engineering Management at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at University of Gothenburg.
– I'm pursuing a Master's degree in Software Engineering Management, building on my previous degree in Computer Science. I've always been drawn to mathematics and problem-solving, and I feel software is an excellent combination of those interests, with countless applications in today's increasingly digital world.
Moving to Gothenburg to improve
Anthony’s decision to study at RIU and move to Gothenburg was driven primarily by his ambition to develop further as an orienteer.
– I chose to come to Gothenburg and study at RIU primarily to chase my ambitions to improve as an orienteer. The US is a relatively small orienteering country and it’s much more difficult to get access to high quality orienteering maps, and organize high-quality orienteering training and competitions. At the championship level, US orienteers tend to underperform compared to stronger nations, including Sweden.
– I hope to take advantage of the training opportunities and community here to improve my abilities and show that American orienteers can be competitive with their Scandinavian counterparts and RIU supports me in both the sport and the education side of my development.
Combining elite sport and university studies
For Anthony, training and competing at an elite level while studying is a combination that works well.
– I love it! Studying while training for elite sport is a great way to stay intellectually stimulated while training supports the physical side of things. Studying also tends to allow a more flexible schedule, which lets me plan around training and competitions and that's a huge advantage compared to a job which can have stricter requirements for coming into the office, I guess that’s what you’re being paid for.
RIU has also provided practical support in making it possible for Anthony to combine the two.
– I've only been part of RIU for a short time, but it's already helped enormously, both in fitting my studies around my training and competition schedule, and in directly supporting my ability to attend competitions through grants for students competing internationally, which allowed me to take part in the World University Championships.
– The RIU staff are also incredibly open to helping students with sports-related interests, projects, and lab testing. It's amazing to have such a talented group of people so genuinely invested in supporting the needs of RIU athletes.
Bringing software and endurance sports together
Looking beyond graduation, Anthony hopes to combine his software expertise with his passion for endurance sports.
– I'd love to apply my skills in software to work in or around endurance sports, whether as a data scientist or an entrepreneur/founder. The world of endurance sports has given me so much, and I'd love to find ways to give back, whether by developing software to support elite athletes in orienteering or other sports, or by working within an elite sports research or performance environment. I think it would be really cool to work with a group like Olav Bu's lab or a Tour de France team.
Taking the RIU spirit into working life
One of the most important things Anthony hopes to take with him from RIU is its support for ambitious student athletes.
– I love how much RIU values ambitious student athletes, and going forward, I hope to carry that same spirit of supporting ambitious young athletes and students however I can.
Looking for the next step in Gothenburg
For now, Anthony’s focus remains on sport and studies, but graduation is approaching and the search for the next opportunity has already begun.
– I don't currently work, but I'm finishing my Master's degree next year and am searching for jobs or PhD programs in Gothenburg so if you know anyone hiring I'd love to chat.
