Zurich is set to host the Swiss Sports Awards on Sunday evening, a celebration delayed by three months following a fire at the Crans-Montana venue. The gala will recognize the achievements of Swiss athletes throughout 2025, a year marked by records, debuts, and comebacks. Athletes from the Canton of Bern – world champions Ditaji Kambundji and Marlen Reusser, along with world champion Franjo von Allmen – are among those in contention for honors.
The awards ceremony, postponed due to the New Year’s Eve fire, will proceed as planned, though the sporting landscape has continued to evolve in the intervening months. Several nominees have solidified their positions, notably Franjo von Allmen, who has since added Olympic titles to his World Championship gold. Others, like Lara Gut-Behrami, recovering from a knee injury, have seen their competitive activity limited.
Odermatt’s Pursuit of Federer’s Record
The selection process focuses solely on performances between November 1, 2024, and October 31, 2025, meaning recent results won’t factor into the voting. This year’s awards carry historical weight, with Marco Odermatt emerging as the frontrunner. A fifth consecutive Swiss Sportsperson of the Year award for Odermatt would bring him closer to Roger Federer’s record of seven wins. The four-time overall World Cup winner and Super-G world champion continues to set the standard in Swiss skiing.
Half of the male nominees represent the world of Swiss skiing. Alongside Odermatt, downhill world champion Franjo von Allmen and Loïc Meillard, who secured slalom gold in Saalbach, are also in the running. The alpine trio is completed by Orlik Armon, the first athlete from the canton of Graubünden to win the Swiss wrestling championship, and Noe Seifert, who earned Switzerland its first World Championship medal in artistic gymnastics in 75 years.
Noè Ponti also presents a compelling case. He would be only the second swimmer, after Etienne Dagon in 1984, to be named Swiss Sportsperson of the Year. His World Championship titles, short-course world records, and consistent performance in Olympic-sized pools make him a serious contender, potentially disrupting the dominance of winter sports athletes.
A Wealth of Female Champions
The women’s category promises a closely contested race, with a remarkable concentration of world-class athletes. Lara Gut-Behrami, a three-time winner (2016, 2023, 2024), is the only nominee without a World Championship title from the qualifying period. All five of her competitors are reigning world champions: Camille Rast (slalom), Mathilde Gremaud (slopestyle), Alessandra Keller (short-track mountain biking), Marlen Reusser (time trial), and Ditaji Kambundji, who made history as the first Swiss athlete to win a World Championship in athletics.
The winner will be determined during the televised gala, broadcast on all three Swiss national channels, with public voting playing a role in the final decision. Several other awards will also be presented during the event.
Team and Coaching Excellence Recognized
The nominees for Team of the Year include the Swiss men’s national ice hockey team, the Swiss women’s national football team (who reached the quarter-finals of the home European Championship), and the alpine combination duo of Franjo von Allmen and Loïc Meillard.
The success of these teams is reflected in the nominations for Coach of the Year, with Pia Sundhage (football) and Patrick Fischer (ice hockey) – the head coaches of the nominated national teams – joined by Florian Clivaz, who guided Ditaji and Mujinga Kambundji to their respective World Championship titles.
In the Paralympic Athlete of the Year category, Catherine Debrunner, Marcel Hug, and Flurina Rigling will compete for the title. The nominees for MVP of the Year are Sven Andrighetto and Leonardo Genoni (both ice hockey), Lara Heini (floorball), Tabea Schmid (handball), Géraldine Reuteler, and Yann Sommer (both football).
The Nominees at a Glance
Sportsperson of the Year: Loïc Meillard (Ski Alpin), Marco Odermatt (Ski Alpin), Orlik Armon (Schwingen), Noè Ponti (Swimming), Noe Seifert (Artistic Gymnastics), Franjo von Allmen (Ski Alpin)
Sportswoman of the Year: Mathilde Gremaud (Ski Freestyle), Lara Gut-Behrami (Ski Alpin), Ditaji Kambundji (Athletics), Alessandra Keller (Mountain Bike), Camille Rast (Ski Alpin), Marlen Reusser (Road Cycling)
Team of the Year: Franjo von Allmen/Loïc Meillard (Ski Alpin), Men’s National Team (Ice Hockey), Women’s National Team (Football)
Paralympic Athlete of the Year: Catherine Debrunner (Wheelchair Athletics), Marcel Hug (Wheelchair Athletics), Flurina Rigling (Para-Cycling)
Coach of the Year: Florian Clivaz (Athletics), Patrick Fischer (Ice Hockey), Pia Sundhage (Football)
MVP of the Year: Sven Andrighetto (Ice Hockey), Leonardo Genoni (Ice Hockey), Lara Heini (Floorball), Géraldine Reuteler (Football), Tabea Schmid (Handball), Yann Sommer (Football)
The Swiss Sports Awards promise a night of celebration, recognizing the remarkable achievements of Swiss athletes in 2025. The event will be broadcast live on Sunday evening, allowing fans across the country to participate in honoring their sporting heroes.
Following the awards ceremony, many of these athletes will turn their attention to upcoming competitions, including preparations for the next Winter Olympics. The continued success of Swiss athletes on the world stage is a testament to the country’s strong sporting culture and dedication to athletic excellence.
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