Switzerland is one of the major athletics nations in Europe - at least since last summer with 9 podium places and 5th place in the medals table. The forecasts for the European Indoor Championships are favorable.
06.03.2025, 04:00
06.03.2025, 06:28
SDA
What was possible outdoors in Rome can also be achieved indoors in Apeldoorn.
Apart from Dominic Lobalu and Timothé Mumenthaler, Swiss Athletics' figureheads will be competing at the European Indoor Championships. Two years ago in Istanbul, Mujinga Kambundji won gold in the 60 m and Jason Joseph in the 60 m hurdles, while Ditaji Kambundji took bronze after the hurdles sprint. These results should now be surpassed, at least in terms of numbers, over the long weekend in the Netherlands.
If you look at the entry list, the Swiss cross appears in the top regions in numerous disciplines. The trio of medallists from Istanbul would have to call it a disappointment if they did not manage a podium finish in Apeldoorn. Mujinga Kambundji is the fastest European woman this winter with a time of 7.03 seconds. Even at the age of 32, the athlete from Bern is still running at the top of her game and on Sunday evening she and Poland's Ewa Swoboda are the only sprinters in the field to have already broken the 7-second barrier - 6.96 at the 2022 World Indoor Championships gold medal.
Jason Joseph and Ditaji Kambundji are both ranked number 2. The Basel native and the Bernese athlete also have something in common with technical coach Claudine Müller. In competition, however, there is a difference: Joseph is a miracle bag, while Ditaji Kambundji impresses with her consistency. To successfully defend his title, Joseph will have to overcome a tough opponent in Jakub Szymanski. The then 20-year-old Pole finished second in Istanbul, and now he wants his first elite title. The men's and women's titles will be decided on Friday evening.
Ehammer as all-rounder
The all-around aces Simon Ehammer and Annik Kälin are, as always, spoiled for choice. The man from Appenzell opted for the heptathlon, the woman from Graubünden for the long jump. Ehammer is the 2024 indoor world champion (6418 points) and will also be in very good form in 2025. This is also necessary: Norwegian Sander Skotheim raised the European record to 6484 points in January. Annik Kälin already flew 6.77 m this winter and is trying to snatch a medal from the specialists.
Angelica Moser, the European pole vault champion from Rome, is taking off. The Zurich native wants to kill two birds with one stone: gold and Nicole Büchler's indoor record (4.80 m). Last summer, the Olympic fourth-placed athlete raised the Swiss record to 4.88 m, this winter the 27-year-old is already at 4.76.
The 20-year-old Audrey Werro has been regarded as the next Swiss star in the 800 m for years. Now the Swiss outdoor record holder (1:57.76) has the chance to win her first international medal in the elite category. Like Angelica Moser, the athlete from Fribourg is number 1 on the entry list.
Brussels instead of Apeldoorn
Two European champions from Rome, Dominic Lobalu and Timothé Mumenthaler, will be missing. The long-distance runner will compete in the 10,000 m in California at the end of March and in the first stop of Michael Johnson's newly launched "Grand Slam Track" competition series in Jamaica at the beginning of April. He will then compete at the European Running Championships in Brussels in mid-April. There he will be competing for a European Championship medal in the half marathon.
Mumenthaler from Geneva, who surprised everyone by winning the 200 m in Rome's Olympic Stadium, has decided to forgo the indoor season.
