The last of the Mohicans among gymnasts: Baumann forgoes his own element for the team

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Christian Baumann (28) has never been a loudspeaker. But the fact that his words are heard is simply because he is the oldest and most experienced Swiss gymnast at the World Championships that start on Saturday in Antwerp.

De Aaraguer is the last remaining Mohican of the STV’s golden gymnastics generation, which qualified for the Olympic Games of both Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2021. European high bar champions Pablo Brägger (30) and Oliver Hegi (30) resigned in 2021, Benjamin Gischard (27) and Eddy Yusof (28) have to refrain from participating in the World Cup due to injuries.

The injury witch also hit Baumann. After the 2021 World Cup in Kitakyushu, he had surgery on his elbow. And as soon as he came back, he felt a pinch in his wrist, which also required surgery. The suffering lasted almost two years. “When the others went to a European Championship or World Cup, it really made an impression on me,” said Baumann. But he never asked himself whether he should keep doing this whole thing.

Goal: Olympic hat-trick

Because Baumann’s big dream is to participate in the Olympic Games in Paris for the third time next year. To this end, he will scale back his ambitions somewhat in the World Cup qualifying on Sunday when it comes to the twelve Olympic starting places for the teams. On the parallel bars, his showpiece, he omits his own element to minimize the risk.

“It really bothers me that I can’t show my own element,” says Baumann. “But it also takes the pressure off. And I happily accept that for the team.” Team performance comes first. Therefore: Safety first. If the STV team can ensure that there are no falls on the six devices, they can hardly be denied a place in the top 12. The two 4th places at the 2022 European Championships in Munich (D) and this spring in Antalya (Door) show what potential the Swiss team has.

Because Antwerp (Be) is all about team success, Baumann shows a less difficult exercise on the parallel bars. “One that I should actually be able to do in my sleep.” Making the device permanent is therefore practically impossible. Baumann has already won two European Championship medals on parallel bars and two years ago he reached the World Cup final. Baumann is also great on the high bar and pommel horse, and he also does gymnastics on the rings.

World Cup debut in Antwerp

Baumann has fond memories of Antwerp. In 2013 he played his first World Cup in the port city in Flanders. “I had no pressure and could just enjoy everything,” he remembers. Claudio Capelli (36), the current national coach, was also in the team at the time.

Ten years later, the pressure on Baumann increases; after all, there is a lot at stake. “For me, it was always the case that I performed under pressure,” says Baumann confidently. He tries to ignore what’s going on around him and do what he does every day in training: perform his exercises.

Baumann is optimistic because there is also a lot of confidence in his younger teammates. The man from Aargau is particularly impressed by their consistency. “It wasn’t easy joining the team,” Baumann said. He sees the future of STV as bright. Baumann also wants to contribute at least to the Olympic Games in Paris.

Source : Blick