Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Championships: Audrey Werro and Switzerland finally aim for medals - Switzerland Blog

Athletics – 2025 World Championships (September 13-21, Tokyo)

Switzerland has never fielded such an ambitious delegation at an outdoor World Championships. After the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which saw four frustrating fourth-place finishes, Swiss Athletics is dreaming of revenge. With eight athletes currently ranked in the world's top 10, the chances of a podium finish are real – and rising 800m star Audrey Werro is among the leading medal contenders.

Eight Swiss in the running for the podium

Switzerland arrives in Tokyo with a dense and competitive team:

Annik Kälin and Simon Ehammer (long jump and multiple disciplines) Ditaji Kambundji and Jason Joseph (high hurdles) Angelica Moser (pole vault) Audrey Werro (800 m)

All are among the top ten in the world in their disciplines. This is an unprecedented situation for Swiss athletics.

Where is Dominic Lobalu?

Absent from the late-summer meetings, the European 10,000m champion is going through a difficult period. A thigh injury forced him to withdraw from Athletissima, the Swiss Championships, and the Weltklasse in Zurich. Despite his 4th-place finish in the 5,000m in Paris and his European bronze in Rome, he is not among the favorites for the podium this time around.

A still modest Swiss record

Since 1983, Switzerland has won nine world medals:

Four gold: Werner Günthör (shot put, 1987, 1991, 1993), André Bucher (800 m, 2001) Five bronze: Anita Weyermann (1500 m, 1997), Marcel Schelbert (400 m hurdles, 1999), Viktor Röthlin (marathon, 2007), Mujinga Kambundji (200 m, 2019), Simon Ehammer (long jump, 2022)

In Tokyo, the objective is clear: to write a new page in this history.

The new faces of the team

Six athletes will experience a major international championship for the first time:

Ivan Pelizza (800 m) Veronica Vancardo (800 m) Lilly Nägeli (1500 m) Simon Wieland (javelin) Lea Bachmann (pole vault) Myriam Mazenauer (shot put)

Among them, Pelizza stands out. A former footballer, he is already the second-fastest Swiss in history over 800m (1'44''53), behind the legend André Bucher.

Audrey Werro, the hope of a generation

At just 20 years old, Audrey Werro has become one of the greatest hopes of Swiss athletics. After her national record and Diamond League victory in Zurich at the end of August, she heads to Tokyo with growing confidence. Capable of competing with the world's best, she embodies the future of the discipline in Switzerland more than ever.

👉 Tokyo 2025 promises to be a truly exciting event for Swiss athletics. With the experience of its headliners and the boldness of its young talents, Swiss Athletics has never had more cards in its hand to aim for the podium.