Déjà-vu on ice
The Swiss national team experienced a déjà vu at the World Cup in Riga: For the second time in a row, coach Patrick Fischer’s team missed the semi-finals in the quarter-finals in the last minute. If the Eisgenossen conceded the equalizer to 2: 2 0.4 seconds before the end against Canada in 2019, this time against Germany 44 seconds were missing. As a result, the penalty shootout was lost. The failure was all the more bitter because the Swiss were even 2-0 ahead. After the 1: 2, however, they became much too passive, “which annoyed me the most,” said Fischer. The dream of the first World Championship title suddenly fell through – in the preliminary round the Swiss had thrilled for a long time.
Swimming great moments
Jérémy Desplanches and Noè Ponti ensured two great moments of Swiss swimming in the Tokyo Aquatics Center, which had previously only had one medal in 125 years of summer games. But 37 years after Etienne Dagon, Desplanches broke the spell. By winning the bronze medal on his parade course 200 m individual medley, he completed his master plan. The man from Geneva moved to Nice in spring 2014 with the aim of making it into the top 3 in Tokyo. Just 24 hours later, double ponti after. Inspired by the team leader, the 20-year-old from Ticino sensationally swam the 100 m dolphin to bronze.
The female Wilhelm Tell
Nina Christen, a top shooter for years and world number 1 in her favorite discipline, three-position match, hardly anyone knew before the Olympic Games – the lot of fringe sports. Boom, boom: from one shot to the other, the name of the 27-year-old from Nidwalden is known throughout Switzerland. First, she won bronze in her second discipline with the air rifle in the first medal decision in Tokyo 2021. A week later with the small bore rifle, she tops this result with gold in the three-position match. Your trademark: When it comes to the decision, you make it even more precisely. Nina Christen wins both medals after a race to catch up – not for the faint of heart in the stands or in front of the television.
The Lara World Cup
It was their World Cup in Cortina d’Ampezzo in February. In the noble town in the Dolomites, Lara Gut-Behrami closed one of the last gaps in her impressive Palmares. She won gold at a major event. She did it twice – in the Super-G, in which she withstood the strain of the big favorite, and in the giant slalom, in which she crowned her way back to the top after three disappointing winters and thus fulfilled her greatest wish of the heart. The Ticino woman rounded off her successful mission by winning bronze in the downhill.
Great moment on the bike
First Jolanda Neff, second Sina Frei, third Linda Indergand: With their historic triple victory, the mountain bikers ensured the Swiss highlight at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. While the favored French women showed unusual weaknesses in the volcanic hills of the peninsula Izu, the Swiss women outgrew themselves on day X. The knowledge advantage that the team around trainer Edi Telser had acquired through months of meticulousness paid off for the Swiss trio. “The French have gambled away,” said Neff.
When Federer looked like 39
July 7, 2021 could go down in tennis history as the day Roger Federer’s terrific career at Wimbledon came to an end. Once again, 15,000 fans tried everything on the legendary Center Court to drive the maestro from Switzerland to another memorable highlight – even one last wave and standing ovations were no use. At 6:12 p.m. local time, the last set 0: 6 was lost in the quarter-finals against Hubert Hurkacz, the number 18 in the world. Never before has Federer been able to see the age of 39 so clearly. He has not yet given up hope of returning to Wimbledon. Either way or not this 0: 6 will be remembered, but the countless glamorous appearances on the pitch with the record number of eight titles.
The game of the century
When Yann Sommer held the penalty for Frenchman Kylian Mbappé on June 28 at 11.44 p.m. Swiss time in Bucharest, he was there – the moment that football Switzerland has been waiting for more than half a century. For the first time since 1954, the SFV selection advanced to the quarter-finals at an EM or World Cup. The fact that this victory came in a memorable game against the world champions, after a 1: 3 deficit and with the last shot in the penalty shootout, gives him a historical dimension beyond the long waiting time. Switzerland vs. France in the European Championship round of 16 in 2021 was actually the Swiss football game of the century.
The Olympic dream comes true
Belinda Bencic lived her Olympic dream in Tokyo despite Corona restrictions and empty stadiums. Even before leaving, she had a tingling sensation in her stomach. “It’s something I can tell my grandchildren about later”. Even before the first rally, the Olympic experience was a “highlight of the year” for her, who earned more than nine million dollars with prize money alone. “Others say that the hype in the Olympic village drains them of energy, but the opposite is the case with me.” This energy and her passion carried the eastern Swiss woman through eleven games in nine days and many a delicate moment in high humidity and extreme heat. Gold in singles, silver in doubles and the election for Sportswoman of the Year were the reward for the hussar ride.
YB plays Manchester United on the wall
On September 14th, the Young Boys hit one of the not-so-frequent great moments of a Swiss club in the Champions League. Manchester United, equipped with numerous new stars, made a guest appearance in Wankdorf. Cristiano Ronaldo played his first international match for the Red Devils after returning. After 13 minutes he scored the 1-0. But after being sent off against United in the first half, only the Berners played in front of 31,120 enthusiastic fans. The last time they registered was 20: 2 shots on goal – and 2: 1 goals. To win, Jordan Siebatcheu scored deep in stoppage time.
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