Melanie Hasler from Aargau and Michael Vogt from Schwyz are the fastest bobsleigh couple in Switzerland. From Friday, they will be training on the new Olympic track in Cortina d'Ampezzo for the first time.
07.11.2025, 04:31
07.11.2025, 06:51
SDA
Time is short in these final weeks before the start of the new World Cup season. After returning from the training camp in Norway, there are just six days left before she travels on to Cortina d'Ampezzo this week. A lecture at a school, dental hygiene and getting the van checked in the garage for the next trip are on the agenda - so finding an appointment with Melanie Hasler and Michael Vogt is not easy. In Zurich, about halfway between their two homes, it does work out.
They may have been on vacation together in Hawaii a long time ago, but Switzerland's two biggest Olympic hopefuls seem relaxed and in a good mood, having had a good summer overall. That is not to be taken for granted. There are the minor injury worries that plague the two from time to time and prevent them from reaching their full performance potential. And, of course, there are the association's financial worries after a sponsor failed to pay a six-figure sum.
Small construction sites in the back
Physically, both are doing pretty well, as they assure us. Vogt missed the first three World Cup races last winter and was only able to start the season in January. After that, however, things went very well with seven top five finishes and bronze at the European Championships in the four-man. Even now, he has to pay close attention to his back and adjust his training if necessary. "There are always one or two small areas where things go wrong," says Vogt and laughs. "But at the moment it's great, I'm happy."
His girlfriend echoes a similar sentiment. Melanie Hasler also suffered from problems with the facet joint in her back last winter, but still won the silver medal in the monobob at the European Championships. "After the preparation, I felt my back a bit more again," reveals the former volleyball player. "But I think we'll get a good handle on it."
So optimism is high, and the two are not expecting any major financial problems. Although they have now had to pay more out of their own pockets for the training camp in Lillehammer, there should be no restrictions in the World Cup. Looking to the future is a little more worrying. "It certainly won't hit us as hard as the youngsters," says Hasler. Nevertheless, it raises the question of what will happen after the Olympic season. At the age of 27, neither of them actually wants to stop yet.
Looking forward to the new track
But first they are looking forward to the Olympic Games and a track that is new territory for all of them. In the summer, they were able to visit the ice track in Cortina d'Ampezzo, which was built in record time, and from Friday they will be able to ride it. "I'm always happy when you can learn a new track," says Vogt with shining eyes. "It gives you more of an adrenaline rush than on the courses you already know inside out." It's all about finding your way around this track as quickly as possible and finding the fast line. The fact that there is still a lot of work to be done on the infrastructure next to the track is of secondary importance.
The first impression is that there are "two or three tricky spots" in the upper part, after which you have to let it run. This means that the material will also play a decisive role here. The Germans have been extremely well positioned and almost unbeatable in recent years, especially in the two-man event. Switzerland's best chances of winning a medal are likely to be in the women's monobob, where standard sleds are used, and in the men's quad, as Wolfgang Stampfer's bobsleigh is one of the fastest.
"Wait, we still have to qualify first," Hasler interjects. However, the starting position for the two Swiss number 1 teams is good. They have both fulfilled half of the Swiss Olympic standard and still need a top 6 place in each of their two disciplines. It remains to be seen what the goal will be in Cortina in February. "Of course I'm dreaming of a medal," explains Hasler. "But if I never get anywhere near the top 3 in the World Cup, you have to be a bit more realistic. Of course, I can still dream even then..."
The six Swiss teams - three in the men's and three in the women's event - will get their first pointers after the training week with around 20 runs each at the first World Cup races on the new track on November 22/23.
