Biography
Started: She began wheelchair racing in 2003. (Athlete, 08 Nov 2019)
Reason: She took part in a multi-sports event for children using wheelchairs. There she met coach Paul Odermatt, who invited her to start training. "I was quickly inspired by the sport." (tagblatt.ch, 29 Feb 2020; Athlete, 21 Oct 2015)
Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (Instagram profile, 01 Jun 2022; swissparalympic.ch, 20 Feb 2024)
Awards: She received the Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability Award at the 2023 Laureus World Sports Awards in Paris, France. (paralympic.org, 09 May 2023)
She was named flag bearer for Switzerland at the closing ceremony of the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (Instagram profile, 04 Sep 2021; aargauerzeitung.ch, 09 Sep 2021)
She received an acknowledgement at the 2019 Swiss Paralympic Night Gala in recognition of her achievements during the 2019 season. (nfz.ch, 01 Dec 2019)
She was named 2019 Third Best Athlete of the Year of Thurgau canton in Switzerland. (kreuzlinger-nachrichten.ch, 17 Feb 2020)
She received the Athlete with International Potential award at the 2008 International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation [IWAS] World Junior Games in New Jersey, United States of America. (iwasf.com, 01 Jan 2018)
Additional Info: FOCUS ON SPORT
She worked part-time as a primary school teacher in Waltenschwil, Switzerland, before decided to become a full-time athlete following the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. "The Paralympics in Tokyo 2021 changed everything. After the gold medal in the [T53] 400m and the bronze medal in the [T53] 800m, I decided in the spring of 2022 to put everything on sport." (swissparalympic.ch, 02 Sep 2021; nyrr.org, 22 Mar 2023)
BREAK AND RETURN
She took a break from the sport after competing at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro to focus on her studies at the Thurgau University of Education in Kreuzlingen, Switzerland. She returned to Para athletics in October 2018 following her graduation from university. (Facebook page, 21 Sep 2019; swissparalympic.ch, 01 Jan 2019)
Frequently Asked Questions
Personal Details
GenderFemale
Birth DateApril 11, 1995
OccupationAthlete
EducationTeaching - Thurgau University of Education, Kreuzlingen, SUI
Languages SpokenDutch, English, French, German, Spanish
CoachArno Mul [personal], NED
Highlights
| Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paralympic Games | ||||
| 1 | 400m - T53 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 56.18 |
| 3 | 800m - T53 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 1:47.90 |
| 6 | 100m - T53 | 2020 | Tokyo, JPN | 17.18 |
| 7 | 400m - T53 | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 58.29 |
| 9 | 800m - T53 | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 1:55.04 |
| 12 | 1500m - T54 | 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, BRA | 3:32.71 |
| World Championships | ||||
| 1 | 1500m - T54 | 2023 | Paris, FRA | 3:22.02 |
| 1 | 400m - T53 | 2023 | Paris, FRA | 50.16 |
| 1 | 5000m - T54 | 2023 | Paris, FRA | 11:07.22 |
| 1 | 800m - T53 | 2023 | Paris, FRA | 1:38.89 |
| 1 | 400m - T53 | 2019 | Dubai, UAE | 56.74 |
| 2 | 100m - T53 | 2023 | Paris, FRA | 16.06 |
| 2 | 800m - T53 | 2019 | Dubai, UAE | 1:53.19 |
| 2 | Women's 200m T53 | 2015 | Doha, QAT | 30.64 |
| 4 | 100m - T53 | 2015 | Doha, QAT | 17.65 |
| 4 | 1500m - T54 | 2015 | Doha, QAT | 3:42.44 |
| 5 | 1500m - T54 | 2019 | Dubai, UAE | 3:35.85 |
| 5 | 800m - T53 | 2015 | Doha, QAT | 1:54.29 |
| 5 | 100m - T53 | 2013 | Lyon, FRA | 18.62 |
| 5 | Women's 200m T53 | 2013 | Lyon, FRA | 32.33 |
| 5 | 400m - T53 | 2013 | Lyon, FRA | 58.35 |
| 8 | 800m - T53 | 2013 | Lyon, FRA | 1:56.44 |
| 9 | 5000m - T54 | 2015 | Doha, QAT | 12:17.22 |
