Puma Switzerland International Team 2016 Pro Elite Backbag

Five Medals in Amsterdam, None in Rio

Switzerland sent 47 athletes to the European Championships in Amsterdam, 6–10 July 2016, forty of them as individual starters. By the federation's own count they came home with five medals and thirteen places in the top eight.

The two golds came in the same race and belonged to the same man. Tadesse Abraham, born in Eritrea, won the half marathon in 1:02:03, and his time led the Swiss six to the team title by two seconds over Spain. The bronzes were all on the track: Mujinga Kambundji in the 100 m, Kariem Hussein in the 400 m hurdles two years after winning the event in Zürich, and Léa Sprunger in the women's 400 m hurdles, in 55.41.

Behind the medals sat a deep row of near misses. Selina Büchel and Clélia Rard-Reuse were both fourth, in the 800 m and the 100 m hurdles; Fabienne Schlumpf was fifth in the steeplechase; Angelica Moser, aged eighteen, was seventh in the pole vault.

Amsterdam

5 medals (2 gold, 3 bronze) and 13 top-eight places from 47 athletes

The golds

Tadesse Abraham, half marathon, 1:02:03 — plus the half-marathon team title

The bronzes

Kambundji 100 m 11.25 · Hussein 400 m hurdles 49.10 · L. Sprunger 400 m hurdles 55.41

Rio Olympics

No athletics medal from 17 athletes; Büchler 6th (4.70), Abraham 7th (2:11:42)