Sports
Best Swiss Athletes of 2014: Roger Federer & Dominique Gisin
On Sunday night Roger Federer and Dominique Gisin were awarded the titles of 2014 Best Swiss athletes. The Crédit Suisse Sports Awards ceremony lasted over two hours in the beautiful studios of SRF1. The singers Herbert Grönemeyer and Gianna Nannini and the popular Swiss group Pegasus were in charge of the lively entertainment.
Dominique Gisin (left) and Roger Federer (right) at the Credit Suisse Sports Awards Dec 14th 2014, in Zuerich
(PHOTOPRESS Alexandra Wey)
Herbert Groenemeyer at the Credit Suisse Sports Awards PHOTOPRESS Alexandra Wey
During the first part of the show the viewers were able to select the best 5 female athletes out 10 nominees. The nominees were Selina Gasparin (biathlon), Dominique Gisin (downhill skiing), Lara Gut (downhill skiing), Mujinga Kambundji (athletics), Patrizia Kummer (snowboard), Jolanda Neff (VTT), Daniela Ryff (triathlon), Florence Schelling (ice hockey), Nicola Spirig (triathlon) and Giulia Steingruber (artistic gymnastic).
The winners of the Credit Suisse Sports Awards: Kariem Hussein, Marcel Hug, Guri Hetland, Dominique Gisin, Roger Federer, Severin Luethi, Marco Chiudinelli and Michael Lammer, left to right – PHOTOPRESS Alexandra Wey
Patricia Kummer, Lara Gut, Dominique Gisin, Kambundji Mujinga and Selina Gasparin were asked to come on a sofa for short interviews. During the second turn of the election, Dominique Gisin was elected with 40.9%.
Dominique Gisin at the Credit Suisse Sports Awards Dec – 14th 2014, in Zuerich credit Photopress Alexandra Wey
After 6 knee operations the downhill ski racer won the gold this year in Sotchi. Proudly she said during the ceremony: “it is an honour and a great feeling, to be able to stand here on the podium with this award.”
In the category best male nominees, it is Roger Federer who won the award with 31.7 %, making it his sixth victory after 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007 & 2012. It is a record for the tennis man. He also jumped this year from the 8th place in the ATP to the 2nd. At the end of the year Federer was very close to becoming number 1 again. He won 5 tournaments in 2014 and the Coupe Davis.
Roger Feder with fans on the red carpet of Credit Suissse Sports Awards -credit Photopress Alexandra Wey
The nominees were: Dario Cologna (cross country skiing, Roger Federer (tennis), Nevin Galmarini (snowboard), Kariem Hussein (athletics), Iouri Podladtchikov (snowboard), Andy Schmid (hand-ball), Nino Schurter (VTT), Matthias Sempach (wrestling), Sandro Viletta (downhill skiing) and Stan Wawrinka (tennis).
Dario Cologna, last’s year winner, arrived second this year with 24,6 %, followed by Stan Wawrinka with 21,1%, Kariem Hussein with 11.9% and Iouri Poldladtchikov with 10.7%.
Swiss Davis Cup Team: from left to right, Swiss Davis Cup Team captain Severin Luethi, Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka, Marco Chiudinelli, Michael Lammer, sing the Swiss anthem, during the ceremony prior the double match of the Davis Cup Final between France and Switzerland, at the Stadium Pierre Mauroy in Lille, France, Saturday, November 22, 2014. (KEYSTONE/Salvatore Di Nolfi)
In 2014 the Swiss Davis Cup team made history by winning the trophy at the end of November in Lille. Switzerland had never before won a world trophy. The Swiss beat the French 3/1 in finals.
Alain Berset, from the Swiss Federal council, who had run 11 km the morning of the awards, said how the victory of the Swiss team is a big reward for Switzerland.
Unfortunately Stan Wawrinka was sick and was forced to watch the ceremony from home!
Other awards were given to the best handicap athlete, Marcel Hug, the best Swiss trainer, Guri Hetland and to the Newcomer, Kariem Hussein.
Marcel Hug from Switzerland competes in the men’s wheelchair 1’500m event at the Athletissima IAAF Diamond League athletics meeting in the Stade Olympique de la Pontaise in Lausanne, Switzerland, Thursday, July 3, 2014. (KEYSTONE/Jean-Christophe Bott)
Marcel Hug is known to be an example for wheelchair racing events. He is a paralympian athlete and the master of 800 to 10,000 metres races. Two more athletes nominated for the award were Manuela Schär and Christoph Kunz.
Guri Hetland won with 20.6% followed by the football Swiss trainer Ottmar Hitzfeld with 14.2%. Hetland comes from Norway and coached Dario Cologna, who had a foot operation. Her efforts and dedication paid off and helped Dario win two Gold medals in Sotchi.
Guri Hetland, trainer of the year – photopress Alexandra Wey
Kariem Hussein, Newcomer of the year at the Credit Suisse Sports Awards – PHOTOPRESS Alexandra Wey
Kariem Hussein was very happy to win the prize. The 25 years old Swiss/Egyptian is the European Champion 2014 at the Letzigrund in Zurich. He won a Gold medal in the 400 metres hurdles. In addition he is very busy studying medicine and hopes to open a doctor’s office. His important goal is to go to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio.
The next Crédit Suisse Sports Awards will be back next year on December 13th, 2015.
