The Swiss gymnasts are traveling to the Olympic Games in Paris with a very young team. The goal is the team final.
13.07.2024, 05:01
13.07.2024, 08:11
SDA
Three years ago in Tokyo, the Swiss qualified for the final, where they finished in a highly respectable 6th place. None of the quartet from back then will be back in Paris. Although two-time Olympic participant Christian Baumann took part in the three selection competitions, his performance was simply not good enough. The 29-year-old was still part of the team at the European Championships in Rimini at the end of April.
With Noe Seifert, Taha Serhani, Florian Langenegger and Matteo and Luca Giubellini, five gymnasts were nominated who are 23 years old on average. This makes the team more than three years younger than in Tokyo. This is the first Olympic Games for all five of them. However, coach Claudio Capelli does not see the lack of experience as a problem, as this was not a point of discussion.
Extroverted team captain
At 29, Serhani, who will end his career after Paris, is clearly the oldest member of the Swiss team and will lead it as captain. With his extroverted nature, he is an important piece of the puzzle, or as Capelli puts it: "He is someone who is needed in a team."
Seifert is the number 1 in the team in terms of performance. Last October in Antwerp, he achieved the best World Championship classification of a Swiss all-around gymnast since 1950 with 8th place. At this year's European Championships, he won the bronze medal on parallel bars. Like Matteo Giubellini, Seifert will compete on all six apparatus in the French capital in the qualifying round, provided nothing unexpected happens. At 19, the latter is the "team chick". The elegance with which Matteo Giubellini performs is striking, which is why he only receives a few deductions for the exercises.
Langenegger will also compete in the all-around competition "as it looks" (Capelli). The 21-year-old has the ability to excel at major competitions. Those responsible are hoping for a lot from Luca Giubellini, especially on the vault. "We have a good mix," says Capelli.
The goal is clear: to make it to the team final again. Eight of the twelve teams will qualify for this. "Our potential is very high. If we deliver our performance, then we can make it. But it will be a tough battle," says Capelli. He does not expect a Swiss team to reach an apparatus final. But in the all-around final there are usually two for sure.
Bickel represents the Swiss women
As expected, the Swiss women clearly missed out on qualifying for the team competition. However, Lena Bickel secured a quota place in Antwerp. For the 19-year-old, participation in the Olympics alone is a great success. The Swiss team will be putting the finishing touches to their training in Magglingen before traveling to Paris on July 21.
