The bronze medallist in beach volleyball at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Ms Anouk Vergé-Dépré, was honoured with the Swiss Students Sports Award at the traditional Swiss University Sports ceremony at the Lucerne Exhibition Centre for her successful dual career, combining top-level sport and studies.

The Lifetime Award, presented for the first time, was given to skiing legend Mr Karl Frehsner, who has also coached the Alpine athletes of the Swiss delegation at the Universiades for many years.



In the presence of the President of Swiss Olympic Mr Jürg Stahl and many federation representatives and politicians, not only was a review of Tokyo and an outlook on the upcoming Winter Universiade in Central Switzerland presented, but the increasing importance of dual careers was also emphasised.



This was expressed both in the laudation by Mr Simone Righenzi, Head of Competitive Sports at Swiss University Sports for Ms Anouk Vergé-Dépré, and by the federation President Mr Mike Kurt for Mr Karl Frehsner.



In their words of thanks, both honourees underlined the importance of being able to combine top-level sport and education and asked for further support in this direction.



Present at the event was also Managing Director of the Swiss University Sports and Acting President of the International University Sports Federation Mr Leonz Eder.



The ceremony, professionally presented by the well-known Swiss moderator Mr Beat Antenen, was held on Monday, September 13, and was enriched with musical and dance performances, as well as with the visit of Wuli, the mascot of the 2021 Winter Universiade.

For more information, please see www.swissuniversitysports.ch.

(Photos by Roland Büsser)