The testimonies of Switzerland’s top athletics: the drama queens, loudspeakers and pipe sparrows of the athletics year

You almost forget: the Bernese woman became European indoor champion in a dominant manner in the spring. A lot has happened since then; her chronic inflammation in her left foot made normal training impossible. That’s why she gave up the 200 m and the relay. The fact that she ultimately missed the World Cup final by just three hundredths is a huge achievement. If she is healthy, she will aim for medals at the Olympic Games and the European Championships next year.

The man has demands. In Istanbul he became European indoor champion, which meant his breakthrough at international elite level. But Jozef wants more. Despite his great consistency, reaching the World Cup finals and several Swiss records (most recently 13.07 seconds) in the 110 meters, he thought his season was just “okay”. Because he knows how little he misses from the absolute best in the world and a time under 13 seconds. The fact that he is only satisfied with the best speaks for him. Even if you wish him he wouldn’t just berate himself in the quiet room.

It seems things are looking for her. After winning bronze indoors at the European Short Hurdles Championships, the youngest member of the Kambundji clan also shines outdoors, setting new Swiss records and running a time of 12.47 seconds, a time that only one other European woman has achieved this millennium . She has reached the top of the world, now it’s about reaching the absolute top of the world.

Hardly anyone has as much talent as the Ticino native. But the silver medalist of the 2022 European Championships did not get on the court much this summer, also because his body did not cooperate. There should be more next summer.

No one formulates his demands as bluntly as the decathlete from Appenzeller. The long jump record holder explains his goals (medals, records!) very clearly. If he came from the Balkans, his demands would be described as ‘un-Swiss’. From a sporting point of view, he will experience ups and downs in 2023: two Diamond League victories in the long jump and the overall victory in the discipline are excellent, but he clearly missed his best performance at the World Championships and cannot get up to speed in the decathlon due to two zeros and a shoulder injury.

Without Kambundji and Del Ponte, the women’s sprint relay had no medal pressure this year. Yet it did not work without drama: first the replacement of the coaching position by the association took far too long, then the quartet around Salomé Kora and Géraldine Frey reached the World Cup final despite all expectations. Only to be disqualified there for a mistake on the first change. One thing is certain: it will never be boring in the women’s sprint relay.

Since the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the Ticino woman has suffered two years of epidemics. The question for her is: what does the long injury break do to the psyche of the woman who finished fifth at the Olympic Games in the 100 meters two years ago and ran 10.90?

Speaking of athletes who have struggled over the past two years, Moser also comes from very low. At the World Championships in Budapest she took 5th place in the pole vault, a personal best and Olympic qualification. Next year she should have a serious say in the European Championship title in Rome.

Not many people can write that on their business card: Werro is the U20 world record holder for the 1000 m. But the ultra-talented 800 m specialist with the beautiful running style is also paying for many lessons for adults this year. She still has a lot to learn tactically – then she can become great.