Switzerland's athletes fell just short of securing marathon medals at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, which took place from August 10 to 16. The Swiss team narrowly missed out on podium finishes in several key events, including the mixed 4x100 meters relay and the women’s discus throw. Meanwhile, Finland set a new European record in one of the competitions. The championships marked the first time Birmingham hosted the event, drawing attention from across Europe. The Swiss mixed 4x100 meters relay team came within a fraction of a second of claiming a medal. Comprising Géraldine Di Tizio-Frey, Fabienne Hoenke, Daryl Bachmann, and William Reais, the quartet ran a time of 40.87 seconds, setting a new national record in the discipline. However, they finished fourth after a miscommunication during the baton exchange between Reais and Hoenke. This error cost them the bronze medal, which went to Spain. Germany claimed silver, while Great Britain secured gold with Amy Hunt completing her perfect championship performance by winning all three individual events she competed in. In the men’s 4x400 meters relay, Switzerland’s team of Dany Brand, Lionel Spitz, Ricky Petrucciani, and Haydn Brotschi placed eighth. Their time of 3 minutes and 2.78 seconds was slower than their semifinal performance, preventing them from making a stronger showing. Italy won gold, edging out Great Britain in a thrilling final. On the women’s side, the Netherlands retained their title in the 4x400 meters relay, with Femke Broeders-Bol delivering a strong anchor leg to secure victory. Italy took bronze, while the United Kingdom finished in fourth place. The Dutch team demonstrated consistency, having previously won the event in Rome in 2024. Leonie Hügli, a rising star in Swiss athletics, faced disappointment in the women’s discus throw. Despite a strong preliminary round where she threw 62.33 meters, surpassing her personal best and qualifying directly for the final, she struggled under pressure in the final. Her first attempt was too high, causing her to step out of bounds. Her second throw measured 54.55 meters, leaving her with little chance to compete for a medal. Her third and final attempt landed at 50.03 meters, resulting in a 10th-place finish. Croatia’s Sara Kolak won gold with a distance of 62.43 meters, while Germany’s Julia Ulbricht and Serbia’s Adriana Vilagos took silver and bronze respectively. Despite these setbacks, Switzerland’s athletic teams showed resilience throughout the competition. The mixed relay team had trained primarily for individual relays, focusing on women’s and men’s events separately. They admitted that practicing the mixed format only during warm-ups left them unprepared for the unique challenges of the event. Nevertheless, they expressed confidence in their ability to achieve higher placements in future competitions. The European Athletics Championships in Birmingham highlighted both the strengths and weaknesses of Swiss athletes. While some narrowly missed out on medals, others demonstrated potential for future success. The event served as a platform for emerging talents like Hügli, who, despite her disappointment, has shown promise in the sport. As the athletics community looks ahead, the focus will shift to preparing for upcoming international competitions where Swiss athletes aim to make their mark.
★
Keep the news honest.
ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €4/month.
Become a Supporter
CH
