After finishing 9th at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Max Studer has had to cope with a few setbacks. But that doesn't change his goal of competing for a medal.
30.07.2024, 04:01
30.07.2024, 09:59
SDA
Brett Sutton is a triathlon coaching luminary. He has guided numerous athletes from all over the world to success, including the Swiss Nicola Spirig and Daniela Ryf. So when he attests to someone's potential for an Olympic medal, it means something. He even believed Studer could become the world's best triathlete. That was before he took part in his first Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021, where he finished ninth.
"Not an easy path"
But a lot has happened since then. At the beginning of 2022, the 28-year-old from Solothurn struggled with a persistent virus; he often felt extremely tired. The following September, he had to abandon the season due to a bout of mononucleosis. Things did not go according to plan this year either. First, an inflammation in his hip joint caused him problems, then food poisoning, and in the week before last he suffered from a cold.
"It wasn't an easy road. So I'm all the happier to be able to compete here," said Studer. The setbacks had helped him progress as an athlete. "I didn't despair, I did the best I could every day." Although he has always had good body awareness, he has learned to be patient and work with his body, even when his head wants something else.
The support of Nicola Spirig, the 2012 Olympic champion and 2016 Olympic silver medallist, also helped him. "When I needed her advice, she was always there." Sutton's vast experience was also a plus. "Always having access to this expertise was certainly a big advantage."
Lack of competitive hardness
Studer only took part in his first competition this year in June. But that is not just a disadvantage for him. Although he lacks the competitive toughness, on the other hand he sees it as an advantage to be the outsider, to fly under the radar. At the end of June, he significantly improved his personal best over 5000 m in Vienna with a time of 13:25.08 minutes. After the games in Tokyo, he spent two months in Kenya honing his running skills in the training group of compatriot Julien Wanders. "It was a wonderful experience that not only opened my eyes in terms of sport," Studer looked back. He was fascinated by how happy the people there are, "even though they have to fight for survival every day".
Canceled training sessions in the Seine not a problem
As a strong runner, it will be crucial for Studer to keep up in the swim so as not to end up in the back of the pack in the bike. Speaking of swimming. This is of course a big issue due to the poor water quality in the Seine. However, the fact that the training sessions on Sunday and Monday were canceled has no effect on Studer, as he avoids swimming in public waters before a competition anyway.
He is not taking a preventative medication to strengthen his intestinal flora, as he has never tried one before in a race. He doesn't want to take any risks. "My clear goal after Tokyo was to compete for the medals in Paris. I never lost sight of this goal."
