The Paralympics will open in Tokyo on August 24th. Switzerland has 20 female and male athletes (13) in Japan. The Swiss Paralympic does not want to be pinned down on a number of medals that they are supposed to bring home on media day in Bellikon. Six medals are realistic, they just said. That would be more than the last games in Rio in 2016 (5), but less than in 2012 in London (13).
The swimmer Nora Meister, for whom it will be the first Paralympics, and the long-running Marcel Hug are among the Swiss hopes. The experienced wheelchair athlete is taking part in the Olympics for the fifth time, and has already won gold twice and many other medals. Despite routine, the 35-year-old from Nottwil, who of course is one of the contenders for precious metal, is happy as he was the first time: “It’s always a great event and all the games have always been different. Tokyo will be something completely new again, ”says Hug – also with regard to the pandemic times. «It was a mentally challenging year, but I got through it well. Now it’s important to stay open and flexible about Tokyo. “
That is what Nora Meister wants to be, too, who in Japan does not want to bring home a medal but rather unique experiences. “It was difficult. It took me a long time to get back to the state before Corona, “says the 18-year-old from Aargau, who missed training in the water during lockdown. The swimmer trained as best she could on land. “Later I looked for people with a pool where I could tie up and swim on the spot.”
Published: July 12th, 2021, 9:47 pm
Last updated: July 12, 2021, 9:52 pm