The Swiss have finalized their roster for the 2014 European Championships which will be held August 13-24 in Berlin, Germany.
Switzerland will be sending a roster of 14 swimmers which include nine men and five women. The team is lacking some of it’s strongest competitors such as Dominik Meichtry, but does boast a few fast swimmers.
Martin Schweizer will be the only member of the men’s 2013 Worlds team to be returning to the Swiss national squad as he’ll be competing this summer in the 50m breaststroke. Last summer Schweizer swam a 28.01 in the men’s 50m breaststroke finishing 31st in the heats failing to qualify for the semi-final. It took a 27.58 to qualify for the semis. Schweizer was a 28.59 at Swiss trials.
Also swimming for the men will be University of Virginia’s Yannick Kaser. Kaser, a breaststroke specialist, has shown more success in the short course pool than the long course pool, breaking the 2:10 barrier at the short course European Championships in 2011.
On the women’s side no swimmers from the 2013 Worlds roster will be competing at this years European Championships. Look for some new names to don the Swiss flag on their caps and attempt to make a name for themselves in Swiss sports.
The women did however qualify a 4x200m freestyle relay. The order will be determined in Berlin, but it is definitely something for them to be excited about considering they didn’t have one at the 2012 European Championships.
The roster is as follows:
Men (9)
David Karasek (200m freestyle)
Nico van Duijn (200m fly)
Yannick Käser (200m breaststroke)
Martin Schweizer (50m breaststroke)
Jérémy Desplanches (200m breaststroke, 200m IM, 400m IM)
Jean-Baptiste Febo(200m freestyle)
Elijah Stolz (200m backstroke)
Alexander Haldemann (200m freestyle)
Patrick Schwarzenbach (200m breaststroke)
Women (5)
Danielle Villars, MSCA (100m & 200m fly, 200m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle relay)
Martina van Berkel, MSCA (200m fly)
Annick van Westendorp, MSCA (4x200m freestyle relay)
Naomi Girardet, LYN (4x200m freestyle relay )
Lisa Stamm, SCSH (4x200m freestyle relay)
Coaches/Staff:
Steffen Liess (Head of Delegation / Chef sport performance)
Isabel Coello (Team Manager)
Dirk Reinicke (Leading Coach)
Flemming Poulsen (Coach)
Nicolas Messer (Coach)
Dr. Philip Wildisen (Medicine)
Dr. Kellie Pritchard-Peschek (Sports Science FOSPO)
Nicola Poulsen (Physio)
This isn’t a completely “fresh” Team Switzerland. Nico van Duijn (Georgia Tech) established himself as a strong contender in the butterfly races. He had some outstanding swims in the past but never at meets that were in the limelight. David Karasek (former University of Virginia) is an Olympian and has plenty of experience and leadership for this team. Jérémy Desplanches and Alexandre Haldemann started to make a name for themselves on the short course and will now have to transition in the big boys pool…they’re both young with a lot of potential for the future of Swiss Swimming. Martina van Berkel and Danielle Villars are still young but both pillars of this Swiss Team…they’re both Olympians and especially Danielle is… Read more »