An athlete from the region will defend the colors of Switzerland at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Cynthia Mathez, who grew up in Tramelan, learned her qualification in para-badminton this weekend. The one who now lives in the Olten region suffered from multiple sclerosis in 2009 which forced her to use a wheelchair a few years later. She then took up badminton in 2016 to earn a qualification in the queen of competitions just five years later. “It represents countless hours of training, on the field but also in fitness, cardio. It was a big fight. Especially since I have multiple sclerosis, I take much longer to recover than other players who are “simply” paraplegic. It’s a daily struggle ”confides Cynthia Mathez who admits to living“ a big kif, a dream ”.
In five years of practice, the badiste reached the top 5 in the world with her doubles partner Karin Suter-Erath, which qualifies them for the Tokyo Paralympic Games. “Yes, it was fast… but it’s not luck” she laughs heartily, “it’s a daily relentlessness”. Cynthia Mathez will aim in Tokyo with her partner for a 4th place in doubles as well as in singles, with the idea of fighting “like a lioness” for a medal in individual. “But aiming higher in doubles will not be achievable, because our competitors are less disabled than us,” explains the player from the Bernese Jura. She will fly to Japan on August 23 for a little preparation in Fukushima before launching her Olympic tournament on August 28. With the slim hope of playing in front of the public. The question of the reception of spectators has not yet been decided for the Paralympic Games, the state of emergency decreed on the Japanese capital runs for the moment until August 22. / jpi
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