Here it is, the 17th edition of the Summer Paralympic Games will begin on Wednesday with the opening ceremony (from 7:55 p.m. on RTS2). In Paris, the Swiss delegation, led by flag bearers Elena Kratter and Marcel Hug, is made up of 27 athletes. The ambitions, high at first glance, are clear: to do as well as in Tokyo and bring home 14 medals.
After the closed session in Tokyo, popular fervor in Paris: Swiss Paralympic chef de mission Peter Läuppi is counting on at least 14 medals. An ambitious goal, given the growing international competition. “If we manage to win 14, it will be a great performance, but I believe in the team’s potential… We are aware that our 27 athletes will not all win a medal. On the other hand, I think that some will win several.”explained the head of the mission to us, with a confident expression, at the Swiss House.
Unlike the Tokyo Paras, which were tarnished 3 years ago by Covid, Paris will vibrate to the exploits of the Paralympians. The public will be in large numbers on the various competition sites. The stadiums will be full, assure the organizers. Around 2 million of the 2.5 available have already found takers. The party promises to be great.
Swiss girl power: With 27 members in Paris, including 9 who will compete in their first Paras, Swiss Paralympic has never had so many athletes since the Beijing edition in 2008. Among the twenty-seven, 19 are women. So how can we explain this wave of women in the ranks of the Swiss delegation? Olivia Stoffel, head of sport at Swiss Paralympic, can only be pleased with such representation without finding an explanation: “In any case, we don’t do more for women than for men… It was time for women to be equally present in our ranks. They met the criteria, so they deserve their place… On the other hand, it’s not a guarantee that there will be as many in 4 years in Los Angeles…”
Athletics as a provider of medals: In Tokyo, 12 of the 14 Swiss medals were won in athletics. The locomotives Marcel Hug (4 titles in Tokyo), Manuela Schär (2 gold and 3 silver) and Catherine Debrunner (1 gold and 1 bronze) should once again fly the Swiss flag high. In any case, they are highly anticipated.
Marcel Hug, one of the international stars in Paris, will be competing in his 6th Paras (12 medals in total) and is playing it modest. “In Tokyo, all the stars were aligned… To achieve the same feat in Paris would be crazy, a presumptuous goal. If I win a gold medal, I will already be very happy.” A way to perhaps relieve the pressure. The message is identical for Manuela Schär. The Lucerne native, who shone in Tokyo, feels the competition and youth pushing behind her. At 39, she will compete in her last laps of the track in Paris before concentrating exclusively on the marathon. A last dance on the tartan of the Stade de France. “A medal would already be incredible.”
Catherine Debrunner will be in “gluttonous” mode and dreams of medals. The 29-year-old from Thurgau, quadruple world champion last year in Paris, will compete in no less than…. 6 events: 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m and marathon! “A lot of people tell me I’m crazy… In any case, I’m very curious to see how I’ll cope with the series of competitions. On the other hand, I’m sure that recovery and rest will be the key to success.”
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We will also have to count on Elena Kratter (3rd in the long jump in Tokyo) and swimmer Nora Meister (3rd in the 400m freestyle in Tokyo). Not forgetting in cycling the Genevan Celine van Till as well as the four-time world champion Flurina Rigling.
Judo and rowing, a first: Thanks to Carmen Brussig and Claire Ghiringhelli, Switzerland will be represented at the Paralympics for the first time. The judoka, born in Leipzig, has won 3 Paralympic medals under the German flag. She has the particularity of having a twin sister who will also be competing in Paris, but under the colours of Germany and in a different weight category. In rowing, Ghiringhelli will aim for the A final in single sculls. The Ticino native has only been rowing for 5 years. “I hope that this sport will inspire people to take up it because I am the only one practicing it in Switzerland at the moment.”
Badminton to open, marathon to close: Cynthia Mathez and her doubles partner Ilaria Renggli will be the first Swiss athletes competing in Paris on Thursday morning. Not very lucky in the draw, they will try to stand out. Sunday, September 8 will rhyme with the marathon. Marcel Hug, Manuela Schär and Catherine Debrunner will clearly be aiming for a medal, in order to end the last day of these 17th Paralympic Games on a golden, silver or bronze note.
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Paralympics to follow on RTS: Weekday broadcasts on RTS 2 will decipher these Paras with reports, duplexes and guests. The main competitions with Swiss will be followed on the RTSsport website and application. Find the program >> here. The radio will also offer different newscasts in the morning news, the Matinale, the 12:30, Forum and Sport Première on Saturday evening.
>> Also read: 7 things to know before kick-off
Paris, Miguel Bao
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