Florence Schelling 2014 with the Olympic bronze medal
Image: Keystone
The moment when the Swiss women's ice hockey team secured Olympic bronze in Sochi 2014
Image: Keystone
Florence Schelling was considered one of the best ice hockey goalkeepers in the world during her playing days
Image: Keystone
Florence Schelling was named the most valuable player of the 2014 Olympic tournament
Image: Keystone
Florence Schelling in fall 2020 after her appointment as head of sports at SC Bern
Image: Keystone
Florence Schelling 2014 with the Olympic bronze medal
Image: Keystone
The moment when the Swiss women's ice hockey team secured Olympic bronze in Sochi 2014
Image: Keystone
Florence Schelling was considered one of the best ice hockey goalkeepers in the world during her playing days
Image: Keystone
Florence Schelling was named the most valuable player of the 2014 Olympic tournament
Image: Keystone
Florence Schelling in fall 2020 after her appointment as head of sports at SC Bern
Image: Keystone
The Swiss women's ice hockey team made Swiss sporting history by winning Olympic bronze in Sochi in 2014. The face of this historic success was goalkeeper Florence Schelling.
01.02.2026, 04:45
01.02.2026, 08:32
SDA
When Florence Schelling thinks of the Olympic Games, Sochi 2014 is never far away. "The moment when the buzzer sounded and we knew: 'We've done it, we've got a medal'. It's still extremely vivid today," she says. It was the moment when a childhood dream came true - and the Swiss women's national team achieved a historic coup by winning bronze. Right in the middle of it all: Florence Schelling, who was voted the most valuable player and best goalkeeper of the tournament.
Switzerland was not considered a medal candidate in the run-up to the tournament. "Nobody expected us to win a medal," recalls Schelling. Internally, however, the goal was clear, even if it was never communicated publicly. Two years earlier, the team had finished on the podium for the first time at a major event, winning bronze at the World Championships, and many of the players from back then were also in the squad for Sochi. "So we knew we could do it," says Schelling. The decisive advantage: the lack of pressure. "Nobody had us on their radar. That helped us enormously."
A key moment came in the quarter-final against hosts Russia after a winless preliminary round. "I remember one scene in particular at the very beginning, when a Russian shot hit the post. That's when I knew: everything was on our side today." Switzerland won 2:0, Schelling saved 41 shots. And the belief in success carried the team on. "In terms of play, we were inferior to many teams, even in the bronze medal match against Sweden," says Schelling. "But we had an incredible team spirit. Everyone accepted their role, everyone went to bat for each other."
Next generation with new perspectives
Today, Schelling follows the development of international women's ice hockey as an observer. She is particularly impressed by the professionalization in North America with the professional league PWHL, which was founded two years ago, as well as the progress in Sweden. "Young players can now dream of actually becoming professionals. That didn't exist in the past."
Steps have also been taken in Switzerland, "but much smaller ones". On a positive note, she highlights the integration of women's teams into the structures of the National League clubs - such as in Zug, where some players are employed.
Schelling, who retired in 2018 after her fourth Olympic Games, has no regrets that she herself is not active in this era. "I always knew that I couldn't make a living from ice hockey." It was important to her to pave the way for the next generation, as a player, official or today as a podcaster and expert.
New phase of life as a mother
Schelling was also in the spotlight after the end of her career, particularly when she was appointed Head of Sport at SC Bern in September 2020. The role was terminated after one season. Things have since quietened down for the soon-to-be 37-year-old from Zurich.
Her private life has changed a lot recently. Schelling got married last summer and became the mother of a daughter five months ago. "I'm still trying to find my balance," she says. Reconciling family and career is challenging, "but so far it's working quite well".
In 2022, she founded her own consulting and coaching company, gives talks and passes on her experience. She remains emotionally attached to ice hockey. As co-host of the podcast "Jocks Next Gen", she presents talented PWHL players from the college leagues on a weekly basis. "The podcast brings me closer to the game again. I analyze, tell stories and give the players a face."
Induction into the Hall of Fame
Schelling will receive a special honor in May. She will be inducted into the Swiss Ice Hockey Hall of Fame at the men's home World Championships. "It's not really tangible for me yet," she says. The call took her completely by surprise, especially as it came shortly after the birth of her daughter. "You're over the moon anyway - and then this call came. That was very special."
Looking ahead to the Olympic tournament in Milan, Schelling is cautiously optimistic for the Swiss women. The decisive factor will be the condition of key players such as Andrea Brändli, Alina Müller and Lara Stalder. "If they are healthy and ready, a lot is possible," says Schelling. The memory of Sochi shows: There is sometimes more to Olympic ice hockey than meets the eye.
