“When something is new, you experience stronger emotions”

Matthias Kyburz, the world multi-discipline champion, has dared to do something new in 2024. At a network event, he spoke about his Olympic success as a marathon runner.

Valentin Zumsteg

“He has shaped sport as only Roger Federer has,” – with these words Dominik Tanner, chairman of Raiffeisenbank Möhlin bank management, introduced Matthias Kyburz on Monday evening. Together with the Rheinfelden trade association, the bank invited people to a networking event in the Schützenkeller in Rheinfelden. The theme of the evening: “How changes shape our lives”. About 80 interested people participated.

“You took me out of your comfort zone”

Of course, Möhliner Matthias Kyburz is the special figure in direction. The eight-time world champion, nine-time European champion and six-time World Cup winner has been dominant in his sport in recent years. It’s even more amazing that he wanted to do something new this year and take on a new discipline with the marathon. His goal: to reach the Olympic limits within a few months and then participate in the Olympic Games. Experts thought that was impossible, but his fans were more optimistic.

“I’ve wanted to run a marathon for a long time. “This change didn’t come entirely by chance,” he explained. He carefully prepared for the big challenge, trained intensively and brought new people into the team. He was no longer running around 120 kilometers a week as he did during orientation training, but more than 180 kilometers. He also increased his strength training to reduce the stress on the body.

“The change from guiding to marathoning took me out of my comfort zone, it was my motivation,” said the 34-year-old woman. At the beginning it seemed almost impossible for him to maintain the necessary distance over 42.195 km, but it became obvious that he could achieve his goal. In April he participated in the Paris Marathon – and beat the Olympic limit by 26 seconds with a time of 2:07:44. Great success. Until now, no one from Switzerland has ever run faster in their first marathon. This sealed the ticket for participation in the Olympic Games in Paris this summer.

Start with the e-bike

“For me, that means going my own way,” Kyburz said. He gave a small example: Like the others, he himself was not driven to the start of the Olympic marathon by bus. He drove the route himself on a rented electric bike. “I’m probably the only marathon participant who has done that,” he said with a smile. In the race he placed a very good 30th, making him the fastest Swiss. “My environment has been very supportive. For example, it helped me to see familiar faces on the side of the road.” He says that the whole experience is very rich. “When something is new, you experience stronger emotions.” inspire me to run a fast time again,” he said in response to a question from the audience about his future career plans. The current plan is to take part in a marathon in February 2025. He then wants to prepare again for the World Orienteering Championships in Finland in July 2025. “It is not yet clear whether I will run a marathon again in the fall of 2025.”

As it was a bank organized event on Monday, there was also the question of finance. Kyburz then said: “The marathon is different financially than running.