Switzerland
Related News
Bencic and Odermatt honoured as Athletes of the Year in Switzerland
Belinda Bencic and Marco Odermatt have been named Athletes of the Year in Switzerland.
GENEVA, December 15, 2021 - Numerous sports stars were present at the 2021 Sports Awards gala, which did not skimp on glamour and emotions. The two most prestigious awards for athletes went to Belinda Bencic and Marco Odermatt.
Odermatt prevailed against fellow alpine skier Beat Feuz in the public voting. “It's a dream come true for me,” said the man from Nidwalden, who is at the forefront in three disciplines. And: “Sorry, Beat. I hope we can still tour the route together in Kitzbühel.”
Olympic tennis champion Bencic left the Olympic mountain bike champion Jolanda Neff behind in the voting. “I'm really happy, it's a huge honour for me,” said the Eastern Swiss woman on stage after the well-deserved applause.
Summer with a clear victory
Yann Sommer won the audience vote for “Most Valuable Player” with a clear 58.7 percent. The national football goalie just said “Wow” at first. He felt honoured and thanked the numerous people around him. First and foremost his wife, whom he named the “heroine of his year” while in tears.
The MVP title is also the result of the fantastic teamwork, said Sommer. It was almost logical that the Swiss national football team was named Team of the Year. The team advanced to the quarter-finals at the European Championship and “was able to sweep the nation away”, as player Christian Fassnacht said.
Marcel Hug was allowed to take the stage for the sixth time. The wheelchair athlete received the Paralympic Athlete of the Year award again. “This trophy will always remind me of this season, for which I can hardly find any words. For the best and toughest season of my career,” said Hug, who this year won four Olympic gold medals, three European championship gold medals and the city marathons in Berlin, London and Boston.
The Coach of the Year, Edmund Telser, was “overwhelmed” by the award. The successful coach of the cyclists and mountain bikers, who won four medals at the Olympics, personally brought a piece of the puzzle onto the stage. With the piece of cardboard he explained that numerous different pieces are always required for sporting success.
The double junior world champion in biathlon, Amy Baserga, was honoured as “SRF 3 Best Sport Talent” and received a cheque for CHF 12,000. The title promises a lot: Mountain biker Sina Frei, who won the same award two years ago, won Olympic silver this summer.
The winners at a glance:
Sportswoman of the Year: tennis player Belinda Bencic
Sportsman of the Year: ski racer Marco Odermatt
MVP of the Year: Goalkeeper Yann Sommer
Paralympic Athlete of the Year: wheelchair athlete Marcel Hug
Team of the Year: National football team
Coach of the Year: Cycling coach Edmund Telser
“SRF 3 Best Sport Talent”: Biathlete Amy Baserga
Odermatt prevailed against fellow alpine skier Beat Feuz in the public voting. “It's a dream come true for me,” said the man from Nidwalden, who is at the forefront in three disciplines. And: “Sorry, Beat. I hope we can still tour the route together in Kitzbühel.”
Olympic tennis champion Bencic left the Olympic mountain bike champion Jolanda Neff behind in the voting. “I'm really happy, it's a huge honour for me,” said the Eastern Swiss woman on stage after the well-deserved applause.
Summer with a clear victory
Yann Sommer won the audience vote for “Most Valuable Player” with a clear 58.7 percent. The national football goalie just said “Wow” at first. He felt honoured and thanked the numerous people around him. First and foremost his wife, whom he named the “heroine of his year” while in tears.
The MVP title is also the result of the fantastic teamwork, said Sommer. It was almost logical that the Swiss national football team was named Team of the Year. The team advanced to the quarter-finals at the European Championship and “was able to sweep the nation away”, as player Christian Fassnacht said.
Marcel Hug was allowed to take the stage for the sixth time. The wheelchair athlete received the Paralympic Athlete of the Year award again. “This trophy will always remind me of this season, for which I can hardly find any words. For the best and toughest season of my career,” said Hug, who this year won four Olympic gold medals, three European championship gold medals and the city marathons in Berlin, London and Boston.
The Coach of the Year, Edmund Telser, was “overwhelmed” by the award. The successful coach of the cyclists and mountain bikers, who won four medals at the Olympics, personally brought a piece of the puzzle onto the stage. With the piece of cardboard he explained that numerous different pieces are always required for sporting success.
The double junior world champion in biathlon, Amy Baserga, was honoured as “SRF 3 Best Sport Talent” and received a cheque for CHF 12,000. The title promises a lot: Mountain biker Sina Frei, who won the same award two years ago, won Olympic silver this summer.
The winners at a glance:
Sportswoman of the Year: tennis player Belinda Bencic
Sportsman of the Year: ski racer Marco Odermatt
MVP of the Year: Goalkeeper Yann Sommer
Paralympic Athlete of the Year: wheelchair athlete Marcel Hug
Team of the Year: National football team
Coach of the Year: Cycling coach Edmund Telser
“SRF 3 Best Sport Talent”: Biathlete Amy Baserga
News from the same category
Video gallery
Let's Talk to the IOC Presidential Candidates
Let's Talk to IOC Presidential Candidate Lord Sebastian Coe
