As of press time, the Swiss delegation has won 7 gold medals and 14 medals at the Beijing Winter Olympics. While the goal of at least 15 medals proposed by the head of the Swiss delegation, Ralph Strockley, ahead of the Winter Olympics, has yet to be reached, the former Olympic curling bronze medalist is clearly satisfied with the trip to Beijing in an exclusive interview with a client reporter from Beijing Daily.
Stekli said the conditions at the National Alpine Ski Center "Snow Flying Swallow" are very good. The Beijing Winter Olympics was a very interesting and valuable experience, and the excellent work of the organizing committee finally made everyone very happy. The volunteers had made great contributions to the Winter Olympics and had helped foreign delegations, and he would like to thank the volunteers.
With a population of around 8.7 million people and most of its territory covered by the Alps, Switzerland is the absolute leader in the Winter Olympics. Only a handful of countries have more gold medals than the Summer Olympics, and Switzerland, which hosted the Winter Olympics twice, is one of them.
Switzerland sent a huge ice and snow team of 168 athletes to compete in the Beijing Winter Olympics, looking forward to creating the best results in the history of the Winter Olympics. Of the 7 gold medals that Have been won in Switzerland, 5 have come from alpine skiing. Based on feedback from athletes, Strakley told reporters that conditions at the National Alpine Ski Center's Snow Flying Swallow were "very good."
"In the beginning, it took some time for our athletes to get used to the snow here because it's a little different from the snow in Europe. In addition, wind and cold weather also pose challenges. But in the end they adapted very well. As you can see, Swiss alpine skiers are doing very well. ”
Speaking about the goals he set before the Winter Olympics, Strockley said he was happy for all the medals switzerland had won. Before the end of the Winter Olympics, Swiss athletes still have the opportunity to leave China with more medals. He also stressed that medals are not everything, and there are many Swiss athletes who have won fourth place with good performances. This shows that in top-level events, anything is possible and the factors that affect the outcome of the game change rapidly.
"Talented girl" Gu Ailing won two gold and one silver in the three Winter Olympic events in which she participated, and her only "missed" gold medal in freestyle slope obstacle course skills was won by Matilde Greymould of Switzerland. Speaking about Gu's formidable rival, Strikley said that although Mathilde, 22, is already a three-time Winter Olympic medalist (including a silver medal in freestyle ski slopes at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics four years ago), she is still a very humble girl who enjoys skiing and intense competition. Stry revealed that Mathilde and Gu Ailing have a very good relationship, and they know each other in one game after another.
The Beijing Winter Olympics have quietly come to an end, and looking back on the journey of the Winter Olympics in the special period, Strickley concluded that the Beijing Winter Olympics is undoubtedly a very interesting and valuable experience. "It wasn't easy in the beginning, but the organizing committee did a great job and ended up making all of us feel good. I would like to thank the organizers. ”
"Our athletes want to be in touch with Chinese people and also want to be able to visit different parts of this interesting country." Strakley admits that due to strict epidemic prevention measures, Swiss athletes cannot interact with the Chinese people, which is indeed a bit sad and regrettable. He nevertheless stressed that the Swiss delegation had had a very pleasant time in China.
"We were made very welcome. I would like to thank the countless volunteers who have made a great contribution to the Winter Olympics and have helped foreign delegations. Stekli said.