Simon Ehammer is the first Swiss athlete to win a Diamond League discipline at Weltklasse Zürich. He takes time for an interview after his triumph.
27.08.2025, 21:05
28.08.2025, 07:50
SDA
Simon Ehammer, what does it mean to you to have won the Diamond Trophy in front of your home crowd?
"Very, very much. I'm still a bit speechless at the moment. It was the goal every year to win in Zurich, regardless of whether it was the Diamond League final or not. The fact that it has now worked out on Sechseläutenplatz with this strong field is very, very cool. I was the only Swiss winner of a Diamond Trophy before, now I have two. That's good. If someone else wins one, I'll still have one more (laughs). No, joking aside. When I won it for the first time, it was already super nice because it was historic. But the second one is even better."
The good feeling after the Swiss Championships in Frauenfeld was confirmed with the victory. What do you think of your competition?
"The first vault (7.94) was great. In the second (one miss) I took a bit of a risk, which I was able to react to in the third (8.32). It wasn't easy with the wind, I even had a headwind at times. Then it is difficult to adapt. I gave away 15 centimeters in the jump to 8.32 m. That shows that it was technically very, very good. If I can implement that, if I hit the bar perfectly, then it will be dangerous for the others at the World Championships."
Zurich was the dress rehearsal for the World Championships. Are you now the favorite for gold?
"No, I wouldn't say that. The favorite remains Miltiadis Tentoglou (6th with 7.66 m). He is world champion and double Olympic champion and knows how to assess this competition, even if it didn't go well for him. But I do believe that this victory has put me more in the role of one of the favorites. But in the end, it's no use thinking about it. I have to concentrate on myself and go about my work with the same joy and ease. Then it will also work in Tokyo."
Is relaxation the key?
"It's always the key for me. Sometimes I lose it because I want a little too much."
Winning the Diamond Trophy comes with prize money of 30,000 dollars. Will you treat yourself now?
"After the World Championships. We're going on vacation, so maybe I can treat myself to something there. Many coaches and Tatjana (his wife) are here, we'll certainly celebrate a bit and enjoy the whole thing. But it would be a shame if I were to appear in the Letzigrund Stadium tomorrow with a hangover and a bad haircut. That's why it will be more of a cozy evening."
