Bern, Switzerland – The exhilaration of Olympic silver is already a memory for Switzerland’s top curlers, as they’ve quickly transitioned from the international stage to the intense pressure of the Swiss Championships, currently underway in Bern. For teams led by Silvana Tirinzoni and Yannick Schwaller, the stakes are high: a coveted spot at the upcoming World Championships is on the line.
Just days after narrowly missing gold at the Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, losing a tight final against Sweden, Tirinzoni’s team – Alina Pätz, Carole Howald, and Selina Witschonke – found themselves back in competition. The Swiss Championships, beginning Tuesday, offer little time for celebration or recovery, but represent a crucial step toward continued success. The women’s competition got underway with a decisive 10-2 victory for Tirinzoni’s team against Luzern on Wednesday.
A Quick Turnaround for Olympic Medalists
The immediate return to competition has drawn criticism from Tirinzoni, who expressed frustration with the scheduling. “The situation is quite extreme at the moment. We are simply tired, both mentally and physically,” she said following the win against Luzern. Despite the fatigue, Tirinzoni emphasized her team’s determination to qualify for the World Championships, scheduled for March 14-22 in Calgary, Canada. The team is acutely aware of the challenge, having been upset by Corrie Hürlimann’s team from CC Zug at last year’s Swiss Championships.
“I would have honestly wished for some time off from curling,” Tirinzoni stated, criticizing the Swiss Curling Association’s decision to hold the championships so soon after the Olympics. “There probably could have been another solution than to schedule the SM immediately after the Olympics.” Despite her reservations, she affirmed her team’s commitment to compete.
Schwaller’s Team Too Focused on World Championship Qualification
The men’s team, led by Skip Yannick Schwaller, faces a similar situation. Having secured a bronze medal at the Olympics with a victory over Norway, Pablo Lachat-Couchepin, Sven Michel, Schwaller, and Benoît Schwarz-van Berkel entered the Swiss Championships on Monday evening. Their goal is equally clear: to earn a berth at the World Championships, taking place from March 27 to April 4 in Ogden City, Utah. The team has started strong, winning all five of their opening games.
Schwaller acknowledged the physical toll of competing so soon after the Olympics, stating his team needs “every minute of sleep” they can get. Although, he emphasized their dedication to building on their Olympic success. “That’s why we want to be there,” he said, referring to the World Championships.
A Disagreement Over Priorities
Both Tirinzoni and Schwaller voiced concerns about the perceived priorities of the Swiss Curling Association. Schwaller suggested the association may not be prioritizing their participation in the World Championships, stating, “It is probably the goal of the association that we do not go to the WM this year. We have been there four times now and this WM is not relevant for the Olympic ranking in 2030.” He clarified that his team disagrees with this assessment and is competing to prove their worth.
Claudio Pescia, Head of Sports at Swiss Curling, defended the scheduling decisions, acknowledging the challenges of balancing various interests in an Olympic year. He noted that, in addition to the Olympic teams, 11 other teams are competing at the Swiss Championships, alongside Para-Curling athletes. Pescia also highlighted the logistical difficulties of finding an organizing committee capable of managing the complex event.
Silvana Tirinzoni is a Swiss curler from Zurich, born on June 25, 1979, and currently skips for CC Aarau. She has achieved significant success, including four World Championship titles (2019, 2021, 2022, 2023) and seven Grand Slam championships, according to Wikipedia. She also represented Switzerland at the 2018, 2022, and 2026 Winter Olympics, winning a silver medal at the 2026 games.
Yannick Schwaller and his team, representing CC Genf, are also aiming for continued success after their bronze medal performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The Swiss Championships represent a critical hurdle in their path to the World Championships in Utah.
The Swiss Championships will continue in Bern, with both Tirinzoni’s and Schwaller’s teams aiming to secure their spots at the World Championships. The coming days will test their resilience and determination as they navigate the challenges of competing at the highest level with limited rest and recovery time.
The next step for both teams is continued competition at the Swiss Championships, with results determining their eligibility for the World Championships in Calgary and Ogden City, respectively. Fans can follow the progress of the Swiss curling teams and identify official updates on the Swiss Curling Association website.
Do you reckon the Swiss Curling Association is prioritizing its athletes’ well-being? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
