From competing in international bodybuilding contests, to exploring the world in a military orchestra, to being WIS’ newest Math teacher, Olivier Attias’ career has spanned many professions, blending discipline and enthusiasm in his classroom.
Attias studied Mathematics and Computer Science at the Universities of Grenoble, Lyon and Chicago. He holds two doctoral degrees, one in applied mathematics, and the other in computer technology and programming languages.
Attias did a variety of activities in his early childhood, ranging from sports to music. His most impactful interest was Judo, which was originally required by his school. This blossomed into a passion, and later became a profession as Attias was selected at age 18 for the French National Judo team in the 1988 Olympic Games.
Unfortunately, Attias’s Judo career was cut short as he was 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed about 58 kilograms, just under the minimum requirement of 60 kilograms.
“I was the French National Champion,” Attias said. “I was on the French National team, [but] I couldn’t go to the Olympic Games because I was too light.”
His incapacity to participate in the Olympics spurred him to pursue bodybuilding.
“I went to the gym and I put [on] 200 pounds,” Attias said. “I became World Champion in five years. Then after that, World Champion again. I competed 118 times.”
He then turned his attention back to music and joined the military orchestra, a group of personnel that performs for military functions and armed forces. It was there that he was required to move across the world with the military, and where he discovered his passion for traveling.
His expeditions led him to the United States, a place he had always wanted to return to since studying at the University of Chicago. After his return, he opted for the most accessible profession, teaching.
“I started to teach in the US as a French Math teacher because US law said that you cannot give a job to a foreigner if an American can do the job,” Attias said. “But an American cannot teach math in French.”
He joined the faculty of the Lycée International School of Los Angeles. From there, he discovered the IB and has since followed the paper trail that led him to WIS. His life consists of family, teaching, and continuing his passion for bodybuilding.
“My life is a triangle,” Attias said. “I’m at school. From school, I go to the gym. From [the] gym, I go home, and I live in that triangle.”
Attias is looking forward to continuing to teach at WIS and hopes it will be his last job before retirement.
“I was surprised that they put the teacher’s well-being first,” Attias said. “It’s really the school where you love [your] place to work.”
Attias has two dogs and two children. His son is a Division I rugby player in Kentucky, and his daughter is finishing her second master’s degree at Wits University in South Africa.
Beyond his role as a parent, educator, and bodybuilder, Attias embraces a multifaceted identity.
“I’m not just a teacher, I have a lot of personalities, so I don’t hide anything,” Attias said. “I have two PhDs. I’m a doctor, and I’m a world champion [of] bodybuilding. It’s all that [which] makes me not just a math teacher.”
