In Switzerland, there are almost 3,000 small and large gymnastics clubs with a total of around 360,000 members. Many of them offer a variety of sports and provide a broad basic education in terms of exercise, games and sport.
“Gymnastics clubs are all about motor skills, balance, rhythm and equilibrium,” says Jérôme Hübscher, head of sports promotion at the Swiss Gymnastics Federation. “You will later benefit from these basic skills in practically all sports.”
Artistic gymnast Giulia Steingruber.
Keystone/Manuel Lopez
Our currently greatest Swiss athletics trump cards, sprinter Mujinga Kambundji, pole vaulter Angelica Moser and decathlete Simon Ehammer, all have a past in the gymnastics club.
Trying out different things is important for holistic development.
Artistic gymnastics, swimming, girls’ gymnastics: Angelica Moser did a number of sports in her childhood. This benefits her today, she says. “Trying out different things is important for holistic development.”
Broad basic training as a basis for success
For Mujinga Kambundji, the Bern City Gymnastics Club (STB) was the starting block for her world career – with the sprinter joining the athletics department from the very beginning. “For us, too, it’s all about a broad basic education,” says Alex Kuhn, President of STB Athletics. “Specialization in a discipline usually only happens from the teenage years.”
Simon Ehammer first joined the Appenzell TV Herisau before moving to the neighboring Teufen gymnastics club around four years ago. “In terms of the coaching structure, we are in a good position to provide Simon with targeted support,” says Roman Wagner, head of the athletics team at TV Teufen.
It is important to be well embedded at the top level.
However, at some point, training in the village club or the municipal athletics club is no longer sufficient to develop optimally or even to be internationally competitive.
From the gymnastics club to the world top
Technique, strength, endurance, athleticism: on the way to becoming a professional, you need a specific training plan, daily training sessions, appropriate infrastructure and support. “It is important that you are well embedded at the top level,” says Karin Schnüriger, head of youth and training at Swiss Athletics, the national athletics association. The promotion of individual talents is very individual and takes place through agreements between the clubs, the cantonal associations and Swiss Athletics.
Mujinga Kambundji also motivates the younger generation.
Keystone/Erwin Züger/UBS Kids Cup
Young talents often continue to train in their clubs, but also benefit from structures such as performance centers and support from the association. “From the age of 17, there is the opportunity to be accepted into the junior squad and to take part in training camps. We also support the athletes in many other areas such as career and training planning so that they can develop optimally,” says Karin Schnüriger.
World class Zurich
Open box
Box zuklappen
On Thursday, September 5, the best athletes will compete again at the Letzigrund in Zurich. SRF two will broadcast Weltklasse Zürich live from 7:45 p.m.
There are regular live broadcasts on Radio SRF 3.
You can also find all results in the SRF Sport app.
World Class Zurich Program
Kambundji, Ehammer and Moser have been able to develop their talent at a world-class level in recent years. This also gives them the opportunity to show off their skills at events such as Weltklasse Zürich, the largest athletics event. This is thanks in part to the support of the association – and thanks to the valuable work of the gymnastics clubs.
