Emanuel Gisi and Sebastian Rieder from Tokyo
There should be seven medals or more for Switzerland at the Olympic Summer Games in Tokyo. At least as many as five years ago in Rio. If there are more? Always bring it on!
But how many of them will be made of gold? One thing is certain: It is high time the Swiss women finally hit it right. Only four Swiss women have ever won a gold medal in the history of the Summer Games: Nicola Spirig (triathlon, 2012), Brigitte McMahon (triathlon, 2000), Christine Stückelberger (dressage riding, 1976) and Hélène de Pourtalès (1900, sailing). The good news: There is no shortage of gold candidates in the 115-strong Swiss delegation. Blick presents the most promising ones:
Nicola Spirig (39), triathlon
If there is a Swiss gold favorite in Tokyo, it is Nicola Spirig. The 2012 Olympic champion was already European champion over the middle distance this year. In the last test over the Olympic distance in Austria, she left the competition behind and took at least six minutes from her opponents. After gold in 2012 and silver in 2016, she has the best chance of coming home with precious metal for the third time from her fifth game.
Marlen Reusser (29), bike, time trial
After winning the silver medal last year, the case is clear: Reusser can also calculate medal chances for the Olympic individual time trial. The doctor, a talented violinist as a teenager and later politically active with the Young Greens, should start the race with a good feeling: In her last time trial at the Giro d’Italia women, she finished third on the podium at the beginning of July.
Nikita Ducarroz (24), BMX, freestyle
Born in Nice and raised in California, the daughter of a Swiss and an American starts with excellent medal chances. In June she won World Cup silver in Montpellier behind three-time world champion Hannah Roberts (USA). Good omen: in 2020 she won the BMX Simple Session in Tokyo.
Jeannine Gmelin (31), rowing
2017 world champion, 2018 European champion, plus one World Cup silver, two European Championship silver and this year European Championship bronze: Jeannine Gmelin knows her way around medals. The rower may not have been quite as irresistible in the past few months as in previous years – she has long since proven that she has what it takes to row right at the front in the skiff. With all the medals that Gmelin has already won: One of the Olympic Games is still missing.
Joana Heidrich / Anouk Vergé-Dépré (both 29), beach volleyball
Last autumn, the two made themselves European champions in Latvia. Now, in the heat of Tokyo, you have the chance to go one better. The number 5 in the world rankings already meets strong opponents in the group phase, which could be an advantage in the further course of the tournament.
Jolanda Neff (28), mountain bike
There are a few question marks behind the 2017 world champion. After fighting her way back after a serious training fall (ruptured spleen), Neff was well on the way to regaining momentum. But then a month ago she broke her hand in a fall at the World Cup in Leogang (Austria). The good news: With an injured hand, she finished fourth. The bad: The preparation of the three-time overall World Cup winner was certainly not optimal. What makes one hope: that the demanding route suits her perfectly. She won the 2019 test event.
Giulia Steingruber (27), artistic gymnastics
In fact, the five-time European champion has achieved more than she ever dreamed of. Most recently, she shone at the European Championships in Basel in April and won gold despite a damaged thigh. The injury has not healed since then – but despite all the pain, it has an invisible trump card: the iron will! Thanks to her mental strength, the bronze winner of Rio 2016 has a real chance to reach for precious metal again. Or is it enough for more?
Elena Quirici (27), karate
The Olympic premiere of the sport of karate is at the same time the denier. Elena Quirici only has one chance – and she will take it. Because this woman knocks nothing and nobody down. From a sporting point of view, the two-time European champion was the big loser of the pandemic because she had to qualify again because the games were postponed. She did it at the last minute in Paris five weeks ago. Precisely where the next games will take place in 2024, but without karate according to the IOC decision.
Belinda Bencic (24), tennis
The four-time WTA tournament winner has been consistently in the top 15 in the world for two years. What she is still missing after almost seven years and many injuries on the tour: a really big title. As a junior she won Wimbledon and the French Open. As a professional, she has not yet succeeded in Grand Slams. Maybe she will do it like Marc Rosset once did when she won the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992. Or like Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka in Beijing in 2008 with gold in doubles. If she and the close trusted Viktorija Golubic survive the starting round against the top Japanese duo Aoyama / Shibahara, suddenly anything is possible.
Nina Christen (27), shooting
In the three-position match, the European champion from Wolfenschiessen is number 3 in the world. Five years ago in Rio there was already a diploma. Now the time could be ripe for Christians for the absolute hit.
The 32nd Summer Olympics will take place from July 23 to August 8, 2021 in the Japanese capital, Tokyo. All information about the opening, broadcast, competition dates, disciplines, innovations, venues and mascots can be found in the large overview.