Things are rumbling again in the national women’s gymnastics team: trainer Bruce-Martin has to leave

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The decision is the result of extensive strategic analysis after the team failed to qualify for the Olympic Games at the European Championship. But it is also the result of the current situation at the National Performance Center in Magglingen. “What Wendy did was incredibly important to us,” says Head of Sports David Huser. “Now it needs to be further developed.”

The STV is in the middle of a culture change. After the grievances within the association that came to light three years ago, which brought to light Blick, “NZZ” and “Das Magazin” and which confirmed an investigation by the newly established ethics committee, the STV made a fresh start.

Under the leadership of Huser and the new STV director Béatrice Wertli, the association initiated this change. The so-called “Swiss way” was proclaimed. In addition, Giulia Steingruber resigned in the fall of 2021. With his remarkable successes – six European championship titles, one world championship and one Olympic bronze medal – this covered a lot for ten years.

A lengthy process

The grievances, the stalled structures and the lack of elite athletes made the 2028 Olympics a long-term goal. The focus was on setting up a new system. In addition to an independent ethics committee, there is a new sports science institute in Magglingen. New functions were created for physiotherapists and cooperation with doctors and mental trainers was strengthened. There is also increasingly close cooperation with the regional academies.

However, a culture change at the country’s largest sports association was not implemented overnight. Ultimately, this must be supported by various stakeholders and there are also individual sensitivities. A new financing concept based on Swiss Olympic’s FTEM model is in the works and should take effect in the new year. Old structures are demolished in it. An example: transferring to the national team in Magglingen at the age of 16 and entering the elite age is no longer mandatory. The trend is going the other way. Young women should not be ripped out of their personal environment during early puberty.

“Our goal should be for women between the ages of 18 and 25 to reach their peak and reach their full potential for performance,” says Huser. Too many talents such as Anina Wildi, Leonie Meier, Livia Schmid or Anastassia Pascu were recently thrown back as a teenager by injuries and were unable to fulfill their potential.

Start of the new Olympic cycle

Bruce-Martin contributed to the culture change of the STV after the American came into the midst of the great crisis in the fall of 2021 as a beacon of hope. She created a fear-free atmosphere in the gym and gave the athletes more responsibility. For many, this was liberating. However, the athletes were also lured out of their comfort zone, overwhelming some. This transition phase is now complete. Also because it didn’t go as sporty as hoped.

After the poor performance at the EM 2022, the women missed out on qualifying for the World Cup in the fall of April with a 17th place in the EM team ranking, which is equivalent to the Olympics. Lena Bickel and Caterina Cereghetti, who has returned from Italy, will compete in the World Cup for single tickets to Paris 2024. However, from the point of view of the STV, the new Olympic cycle has already begun for the women’s national team. With the long-term goal Los Angeles in 2028. And with a new head coach.

Source : Blick