Switzerland's best-known forecaster predicts nine Olympic medals in Paris. Swiss Olympic is a little more cautious, the stakes are high and many things are difficult to calculate.
In times of discussion about unethical training methods, it is no longer acceptable to make the success of an Olympic delegation dependent solely on winning as many medals as possible. Accordingly, the national association Swiss Olympic is reluctant to provide specific details for Paris 2024.
Medals and diplomas are of course still the goal, assured head of delegation Ralph Stöckli at the presentation of the 128-strong Swiss team. However, appearance and the pride of representing Switzerland are also important. Nevertheless, they will of course be measured first and foremost by the glittering precious metal.
Guerdat's sixth participation
The most experienced member of the Swiss team is rider Steve Guerdat, who has not missed a Summer Games since 2004. The 2012 individual Olympic champion and bronze medal winner with the team is one of eleven Swiss medal winners in Paris. After two events without a podium finish, the riders are once again among the hottest contenders.
The mountain bikers are almost a guarantee for success. A triple victory like three years ago in the women's event is no longer possible, as the quota places have been reduced to two per country. However, Nino Schurter, the most decorated Swiss in Paris with a whole set of medals in his palmarès, and Mathias Flückiger in the men's race as well as Alessandra Keller and Sina Frei, who replaced the ailing Olympic champion Jolanda Neff, are among the favorites again this year.
Hopes are also high in the rowing pool with the pair without Roman Röösli/Andrin Gulich and the lightweight double sculls Jan Schäuble/Raphaël Ahumada. Beach volleyball players Tanja Hüberli/Nina Brunner are among the world's best, as is Stefan Küng in the road time trial. Zoé Claessens on the BMX bike, Nils Stump in the judo class up to 73 kg and Martin Dougoud in kayak cross are not yet very well known to the general public, but regularly stand on the World Championship or European Championship podium.
Shooter Nina Christen is back in top form after her gold and bronze medals in Tokyo. A podium finish in Marseille would not be a sensation: Swiss sailors have been waiting 56 years for a medal, and now the time seems ripe.
Outstanding in comparison
For once, the tennis pros are likely to be on the smaller side. Although the two Swiss participants Stan Wawrinka (gold in the doubles in 2008) and Viktorija Golubic (silver in the doubles three years ago) already have precious metal in their cupboards, this time they are individual contenders and are not among the favorites. Swiss Tennis has won at least one medal every time since 2008, but this time it would be a big surprise.
The well-known forecasting platform Gracenote is expecting nine Swiss medals, while Ralph Stöckli wants to base his predictions on Rio (seven medals, 18 diplomas). In Tokyo there were 13, but that was an upward outlier. Switzerland was therefore well ahead of comparable nations such as the Czech Republic, Denmark (both 11), Sweden (9), Norway, Croatia (both 8), Belgium and Austria (both 7).
"The rule of thumb is to divide the number of medal chances by three," recalls the former top curler. In any case, he is convinced that they are well prepared and is delighted that there will be spectators again.
Some delegations such as the swimmers, rowers, canoeists and fencers are already traveling to France for training camps in the next few days. Fencer Pauline Brunner is expected to be the first Swiss athlete to arrive in the Olympic Village on July 20.
