Swiss Olympic Team Confirmed

Last week Swiss Triathlon finalized the six athletes who will head to Beijing for this summer’s Olympic Games. Switzerland is one of just five countries to qualify the maximum of three men and three women and the country has named a team expected to be one of the strongest and deepest in Beijing.

photos Triathlon.org

The women’s squad is a smooth blend of experience and young talent. Olympic bronze medalist from 2000, Magali Di marco will make her second trip to the Games. The 36-year old mother has not raced much in 2008 but a bronze in Richards Bay and 15th place at the European championships were enough to secure a spot on the Olympic team. Click here to read Chris Hill’s column on Magali Di marco

Rising star Daniela Ryf, who’s 16 years Di marco’s junior, was also selected for Beijing. The newly crowned under23 world champion has enjoyed a breakthrough season; taking bronze at Madrid for her first world cup medal, eighth at the European championships and currently sits ninth in the world, the highest Swiss woman.

Rounding out the team is Nicola Spirig who will race in her second Olympics. Perhaps Switzerland’s biggest threat for the women’s Olympic podium, she was seventh and the top Swiss at the Beijing test event in 2007. Later in the season she broke through for her first world cup title in Eilat, Israel and finished the year ranked sixth in the world. Always consistent and dangerous on tough bike courses, Spirig finished fourth at this year’s European championships, outsprinted at the line by Sweden’s Lisa Norden.