GYC athlete Elena Lengwiler’s dream of competing in the Olympics has become a reality. Last month at the Kite World Championships in Hyères, the GYC Racing Team member soared to an impressive 6th place, securing her ticket to the Olympic Games in Paris. This achievement came shortly after she qualified for Switzerland at the Semaine Olympique in the same waters. With the Swiss Sailing Team’s selection committee’s approval, Swiss Olympic officially called her up for the Games.

Training for success
The 27-year-old athlete from St. Gallen, who relocated to windy Lake Walen to enhance her training conditions, will now represent Switzerland and the Gstaad Yacht Club in the “Formula Kite Women” discipline off Marseille. Elena, who holds a degree in business administration with a specialisation in sports management, has set a clear goal for herself: “At least a top 8 place for a diploma.” Her long-term vision extends to the 2028 Olympics, where she aims to compete for medals.

Gstaad Yacht Club’s legacy
The yacht club shares Elena’s longterm approach. With its GYC Racing Team, the club laid the groundwork for consistent sporting success over 20 years ago. GYC athletes have competed in six Olympic Games across various disciplines. Notably, in London 2012, three of the four Swiss teams hailed from GYC. By Tokyo 2020, GYC athletes had participated in the Olympics five times consecutively. Matías Bühler and Nathalie Brugger, competing in the Nacra 17 class, qualified Switzerland for the Rio 2016 Olympics on their first attempt. Other GYC athletes, including Flavio Marazzi and Enrico de Maria in the Star class, windsurfer Mateo Sanz Lanz, and Laser and Finn sailor Nils Theuninck, have also achieved significant successes.

Passing the torch
Nils Theuninck’s journey with GYC, spanning over a decade, exemplifies the club’s philosophy of passing on knowledge. Now a coach, Nils mentors Anja von Allmen, who shares training synergies with Maud Jayet. Meanwhile, GYC sailors Gauthier and Martin Verhulst, along with Anja von Allmen and Joshua Richner with Nilo Schaerer, are already training for the 2028 Games.

Support from within
Support for GYC sailors comes not from club funds but from individual members who are personally involved. The club, which boasts 400 members from over 40 nationalities, maintains a sporting spirit that transcends nationality. For example, seven-time French champion Eliot Merceron, a GYC member thanks to his Swiss mother, represented the club. In Rio, GYC sailors represented Switzerland, France, and Australia.

Experience and insight
Twelve GYC members have participated in the sailing Olympics for seven different countries, providing invaluable experience and insight. Elena Lengwiler, who has mastered the early stages of her sporting career independently, will benefit from the support of the Gstaad Racing Team and the Swiss Sailing Team as she focuses on training and competitions.

Farewell on Olympic Day
On June 23rd, International Olympic Day, the Gstaad Yacht Club bid farewell to Elena as she prepared for the Games. This day, commemorating the founding of the International Olympic Committee, highlights the importance of sport in fostering social cohesion and tolerance. The three pillars of Olympic Day – move, learn, and discover – resonate deeply with the club’s values.

Ready for Paris 2024
The 2024 Olympic Games will begin on July 28th, featuring the first regattas of the 49er and iQ-Foil windsurfers. With Elena Lengwiler’s selection in the Formula Kite class, the Swiss sailing delegation for Paris 2024 is complete. Alongside Maud Jayet (ILCA 6), Sébastien Schneiter and Arno de Planta (49er), Yves Mermod and Maja Siegenthaler (470 mixed), and Elia Colombo (iQ-Foil), Switzerland will be represented in five classes at the Olympic regattas off Marseille. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for Elena and the entire Swiss team. Bon vent!

GYC

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