What’s behind the termination: Bobsled sports director Fabienne Meyer resigns

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Two siblings, one job. Fabienne Meyer (41) is sports director at Swiss Sliding, her brother Remo (42) is also sports director – at FC Luzern. But now the most special brother-sister combination in Swiss sport is coming to an end. Fabienne Meyer stops as sports director at the ice channel association.

Shortly before the season, Meyer retired after three years. For several reasons, as she says. There is a double burden. The former European bobsleigh champion worked 40 percent for the sport and 60 percent at an architectural firm. “With two jobs there was little free time,” says Meyer.

But there are also tiring battles. Meyer dreamed of a bobsled team with the best athletes in the fastest bobsleds. But the tension that has been typical for decades between the self-interests of the racing teams, the powerful clubs and the association still exists. “I sometimes missed the overarching interest,” she says, “but if everyone puts their shoulders to the wheel, the sport of bobsleigh will not die.”

“I won’t leave frustrated”

It goes without saying that Meyer’s sometimes daring ideas met resistance on the ice rink from the many wayward men. The result was a lot of discussion, even about seemingly small things. But Meyer assures, “I won’t leave frustrated.”

Now she gave notice at the end of November, leaving Meyer with a fully planned season plus a planned summer. And therefore enough time for the association to find a follow-up solution. “We understand that Fabienne would like to transfer her duties after three intensive years,” says Swiss Sliding boss Sepp Kubli.

Unlike her short-term predecessor, the woman from Willisau was able to achieve a lot. The structures and trainer training were improved and specialists such as sprint coach Wolfgang Adler were hired. There were also controversial decisions such as the dismissal of star coach Christoph Langen.

The lack of pushers is an unsolved problem

Under Meyer, Switzerland was back on the podium in the men’s and women’s World Cup after years of drought, plus Michael Vogt’s (25) World Cup bronze and his fourth Olympic place in the pair.

However, there are still construction pitfalls such as a lack of pushers; Among women, only Melanie Hasler’s (24) team is still participating in the World Cup. Meyer assures that the success of her newly introduced young talent concept will be visible in a few years. And she emphasizes that she was not solely responsible for Bob: “The staff situation in the skeleton has already improved.”

Source : Blick