Wheel gymnastics in Switzerland

Wheel gymnastics has been practiced in Switzerland since the 1980s.[1] The country has produced multiple world champions in the sport.

History

Wheel gymnastics has been practiced in Switzerland since the 1980s, when the first competitions were also held in the country.[1] The "Gymnaestrada 1982", held in Zürich[2], provided the foundation for international cooperation in wheel gymnastics. In 1992, the first European Championships were held in Liestal[3][4]. Switzerland is also a co-founder of the International Wheel Gymnastics Federation (IRV), which was established in 1995 and is headquartered in Bern.[3]

Switzerland hosted the 4th World Championships in Liestal in 2004[5], followed by the 8th edition in Baar in 2009[6], and the 13th edition in Magglingen in 2018.[7]

Rhönradswiss

"Rhönradswiss" is the national governing body for wheel gymnastics in Switzerland.[1] It coordinates and organizes the sport nationally.[1]

National Squad

Rhönradswiss supports athletes in competitive sport through its national squad, which is divided into Squad A (higher performance) and Squad B (lower performance). Squad members train together across four different weekends throughout the year.[8]

Competition system

Switzerland utilizes its own competition system for national events, while routines and vaults are scored according to the international "Code of Points" set by the IRV. National competitions feature five performance levels: Level Basic, Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level Elite.[9]

In Level Basic, gymnasts are restricted to elements with a maximum difficulty rating of A (0.2); Level 1 allows elements up to difficulty B (0.4), and so forth. In addition to the three individual disciplines (straight line, spiral, and vault), Level Elite offers an all-around competition, where scores from all three disciplines are combined. Gymnasts may select their level regardless of age and gender.[9] Prior to 2018, categories were divided by gender and age group (e.g., Juniors, Youth Male/Female, Adults Male/Female).[10]

The national season includes the following annual competitions:[11]

  • Herbstpokal (October, Zürich-Affoltern)[12]
  • Chlauscup (December, Untersiggenthal)[13]
  • Baselbietercup (January, Hölstein)[14][15]
  • Breitlicup (March, Buochs)[16][17]
  • Schachen Cup (May, Bonstetten)[18]

Swiss Championships

Gymnasts can qualify for the Swiss Championships (held in March/April) through performance at the four qualification events. The championships are held at a different location each year, including the 2026 event held in Baar on May 3, 2026.[19]

Swiss Champions 2026[20]
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level Elite Youth Level Elite Senior
Straight Line Ayana Thaler Lea Karli Amelie Stiefmeier Nadine Kamm –
Straight Line w. Music – Siria Suter Timon Peter – Cheyenne Rechsteiner
Spiral Xenia Bötschi Valeria Murer Mena Kobler Nadine Kamm Cheyenne Rechsteiner
Vault Kim Fornallaz Lena Itin Xenia Bötschi Timon Peter Manuel Roth
All-Around – – – Timon Peter

Nadine Kamm

 Cheyenne Rechsteiner

Simon Rufener

International achievements

Team World Championship

Switzerland qualified for the 2026 Team World Championship in Salzburg based on its performance at the World Championships.[21]

Year Juniors Seniors
2025[22] 1st Place 4th Place
2023[23] 3rd Place 2nd Place
2019[24] – 3rd Place
2017[25] – 1st Place
2014[26] – 2nd Place
2012[27][28] – 4th Place
2010[29] – 4th Place
2006[30] – 4th Place
2004[31] – 4th Place
2002[32] – 5th Place

World Champions

  • Cécile Meschberger: Straight Line (2007)[33]
  • Cheyenne Rechsteiner: Straight Line (2015), Spiral (2018, 2024)[34]
  • Simon Rufener: Straight Line (2022[35], 2024, 2026[36]), All-Around (2022[35], 2024[37], 2026[36]), Spiral (2026[36])
  • Timon Peter: Straight Line (2024), All-Around (2024)[38]
  • Elea Peter: Straight Line (2026)[39]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Di Potenza, Francesco (18 April 2018). "Rhönrad: Es geht drunter und drüber". mobilesport.ch (in German). Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  2. ↑ Fretz, Philipp Bärtsch,Nordwestschweiz Netz,Andreas (2011-07-09). "Gymnaestrada: Olympischer als die Olympischen Spiele". Luzerner Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2026-07-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. 1 2 "Rhoenrad / Wheel Gymnastics: Geschichte und Entwicklung / History and Development". www.gymmedia.de. Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  4. ↑ Sollohub, Maria (2026-03-14). "Tribute to Patrick Klar-Thommen (1950-2026)". IRV | International Wheel Gymnastics Federation. Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  5. ↑ "2001 World Championships". IRV | International Wheel Gymnastics Federation. 2020-05-28. Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  6. ↑ "RHÖNRAD-WM: In Baar läuft in den nächsten Tagen alles rund". Luzerner Zeitung (in German). 2009-05-20. Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  7. ↑ Deutschland, Rhönradturnen und Cyr Wheel in. "Rhönrad-WM 2018: 28 Athleten vertreten Deutschland in Magglingen". www.openpr.de (in German). Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  8. ↑ https://rhoenradswiss.ch/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SANK_Version_2026.1-oeffentliche-Version.pdf retrieved 24.07.2026
  9. 1 2 "Wettkampfreglement 2024.01" (PDF) (in German). Rhönradswiss. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  10. ↑ "Rangliste Schweizer Meisterschaft 2017" (PDF) (in German). Rhönradswiss. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  11. ↑ "Terminkalender | RHÖNRADswiss" (in German). Rhönradswiss. Retrieved 26 December 2024.
  12. ↑ "Termindetail". stv-fsg.ch (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  13. ↑ "Chlaus-Cup". STV Untersiggenthal (in German). Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  14. ↑ "Termindetail". stv-fsg.ch (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  15. ↑ "Baselbieter Cup 2026 - Wettkämpfe - Rhönrad". rhoenrad.events. Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  16. ↑ "Willkommen - Turnverein Thun-Strättligen". www.tvstraettligen.ch. Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  17. ↑ "Breitli-Cup - Anlässe - STV Buochs". stvbuochs.ch. Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  18. ↑ "Schachen Cup". Rhönrad Bonstetten (in German). Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  19. ↑ "Rhönrad-Schweizer Meisterschaft in Baar – ein voller Erfolg". Zuger Zeitung (in German). 2026-05-07. Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  20. ↑ "Schweizermeisterschaft 2026 in Baar" (in German). Retrieved 17 July 2026.
  21. ↑ "Wheel Gymnastics World Championships 2024". IRV. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  22. ↑ www.landesturnverband-sachsen-anhalt.de https://www.landesturnverband-sachsen-anhalt.de/post/gold-f%C3%BCr-deutschland-bei-der-rh%C3%B6nrad-team-wm. Retrieved 2026-07-24. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  23. ↑ Autoren, Auswärtige (2023-07-27). "WM-Silber und Bronze für Waldstätter Rhönradturner". Appenzeller Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  24. ↑ "DTB-Rhönrad-Team gewinnt den Team Worldcup 2019" (in German). DTB. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  25. ↑ "Team Germany belegt Platz 2 bei Team World Cup 2017" (in German). DTB. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  26. ↑ "Results - TWCH14-results.pdf" (PDF). GYMmedia. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  27. ↑ S. T. V. Untersiggenthal (16 May 2012). "Sport- und Turnverein - Team World Cup 2012 – Rhönrad". Oltner Tagblatt (in German). Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  28. ↑ "12-03-WC-Baar-results.pdf" (PDF). GYMmedia. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  29. ↑ "WTC Finnentrop Results.pdf" (PDF). GYMmedia. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  30. ↑ "WTC06-results.pdf" (PDF). GYMmedia. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  31. ↑ "WC04-res1.pdf" (PDF). GYMmedia. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  32. ↑ "TSV Taunusstein, Tatoo Festival, Virginia / USA, 2001". GYMmedia. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  33. ↑ "Mini Räder - Mis Läbe - Rhönrad: Wie Pole Dance im Hamsterrad". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  34. ↑ "Ein weltmeisterliches Comeback". baselland.ch (in German). Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  35. 1 2 "Sport abseits von Fussball - Diese Weltmeisterinnen und Weltmeister kommen aus der Schweiz". Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) (in German). Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  36. 1 2 3 Maag, Manuel (2026-07-05). "Rhönrad-WM in Göttingen: Drei Medaillen für den TV Liestal". Baselbieter Sport (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  37. ↑ "Rhönrad WM: Starke Medaillenplätze für Deutschland im Mehrkampf". www.dtb.de (in German). 2024-08-03. Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  38. ↑ Peter, Sandrine (2024-12-25). "WM-Gold für Bonstetten – Timon Peter ist Weltmeister im Rhönradturnen". Rhönrad Bonstetten (in German). Retrieved 2026-07-24.
  39. ↑ "Vier Weltmeistertitel und zahlreiche Podestplätze für die Schweiz". stv-fsg.ch (in Swiss High German). 2026-06-30. Retrieved 2026-07-24.
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