Essentials

As indoor pools were closed during the pandemic, Alanis Siffert, an ambitious swimmer, shifted her focus to running and cycling.

He is one of the most charismatic figures in professional cycling: 32-year-old Julian Alaphilippe inspires with his offensive racing style, his unpredictability and his undeniable fighter's heart. 

As we age, we usually get a bit slower each year. But not Manfred Jauch.

The 19-year-old orienteer and trail runner Loïc Berger pulverised the 25-year-old Swiss U20 record at the international half marathon in Barcelona.

Patrick Lange wrote triathlon history when he celebrated his third title at the 2024 Ironman Hawaii with a new course record time of 7:35:53 hours.

Until recently, Jasmine Liechti was only known to insiders. This all changed following the World Cycling Championships last September in Zurich. The 22-year-old from Bern became the U23 Vice World Champion in the time trial.

A new star has appeared in the Swiss long-distance racing and trail running firmament. Oria Liaci, 23, from Martigny, has been stealing the limelight since the end of the COVID pandemic.

Sebastian Stalder caused a sensation last winter with several top ten placings and raised hopes for the home World Championships from 12 to 23 February 2025.

A month ago, Noemi Rüegg came 7th in the road cycling race at the Paris Olympics. In doing so, the 23-year-old from Zurich and reigning Swiss champion rounded off an already successful season.

The 29-year-old Canadian professional cyclist won the Ötztal Cycling Marathon, the ‘unofficial world championship of cycling marathon riders’, for the second time. Not a matter of course, as he had suffered a serious accident with severe brain injuries a year ago.

Following Rio (2016) and Tokyo (2021), Fabienne Schlumpf participated in her third Olympic Games in Paris. The 34-year-old from the Zurich highlands achieved an excellent 16th place.

The 27-year-old from Zurich and her partner, Anne Terpstra – this legendary bike event in South Africa is disputed in two-person teams – won the ‘Tour de France of mountain biking’ at their first attempt. The two teammates triumphed in the Prologue and all seven stages! 

At the beginning of June, the 27-year-old from Ticino narrowly missed out on a medal in the uphill mountain race at the European championships, finishing fourth. Two days later, the reigning Swiss mountain race champion won the European up & down mountain race title.

After winning the bronze medal in the Olympic distance at the 2023 European Championships, she confirmed this result shortly thereafter with third place at the World Cup in Rome.

Living in Geneva since 2016 and married to a Swiss national, Helen Bekele obtained Swiss citizenship this February. With her current best marathon time of 2:19:44, the 29-year-old still has plenty to offer.