News
Unforgettable student days in Magglingen: SFISM's 2024 graduation ceremony
All dressed up and glowing with pride, 52 students received their diplomas: 26 Master of Science in Sports with a Specialisation in Elite Sport and 26 Bachelor of Science SFISM in Sports. Ralph Stöckli, director of Swiss Olympic's Olympic Games department and himself a former student in Magglingen, gave the keynote speech. Entertainment was provided in the form of music by the duo Matchenko and videos showcasing the students’ athletic prowess.
Like a gladiator in the arena: top rower and BSc student Joel Schürch looks back on the Olympics in Paris
Joel Schürch is an experienced Olympic athlete. This was his third time at the Olympics: he was a substitute in Rio in 2016, but in Tokyo in 2021 and in Paris this summer he competed in the coxless fours. Looking back, the 29-year-old from Lucerne, who competes for Sursee rowing club, answers a few questions and shares his thoughts on what made Paris special.
Using innovative learning solutions to help elite athletes
The Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen (SFISM) Department of Sports Economics held a workshop entitled Athlete Education 4.0 in cooperation with ThinkSport. The event focused on innovative learning solutions tailored to the needs of elite athletes.
Creative impulses for the continued development of the SFISM
A wide range of illustrations now adorn the walls and ceilings of the new building at Lärchenplatz. They were designed and applied by thirteen students from Bern Academy of the Arts (HKB). They remind staff, clients, athletes and guests of the successful accreditation of the Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen (SFISM) and of the need to work together for its continued development.
Improved neuromuscular performance and robustness through high-quality strength training
A new factsheet on «strength training performance reserve» from the Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen SFISM in collaboration with Swiss Olympic can help you become stronger, more explosive and faster in the long term.
SFISM hosts the Swiss Strength & Conditioning Association on its anniversary
The Swiss Strength & Conditioning Association SSCA is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Magglingen. Sports Coach Education Switzerland is also involved in the event, as is SFISM strength training expert and SSCA committee member Jan Seiler.
The SFISM adapting to change
What were the defining accomplishments at the Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen last year? They are all featured in the SFISM 2023 Annual Report.
2024 MagglingenThinkathlon: Dartfish – putting data to good use
This year’s MagglingenThinkathlon, a special block week in the Bachelor’s degree programme at the Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen (SFISM), was attended by 18 of its own students, as well as nine students from the Department of Technology and Information Technology at Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH-TI). The aim of the event was for students to develop a prototype and a business model using video and other data from the company Dartfish in a meaningful and targeted way.
A beast for FOSPO sports science
The new Lärchenplatz building at the National Sports Centre in Magglingen has been in use since last December. Now a further element has been added to the flagship sports science building: an oversize treadmill. And it was installed in quite a spectacular way.
Ronja Blöchlinger – a promising future
Ronja Blöchlinger prefers it when the conditions are really difficult, just as they were at the season finale in Canada. The mountain biker and SFISM bachelor's student became the overall champion in the UTC MBI World Cup rankings in both the cross-country Olympic discipline and the short track in the Under 23 category.
«That's what's cool about Magglingen!» – NHL superstar Nico Hischier spends time over the summer training at the National Sports Centre
Nico Hischier (24) was the No 1 pick in the 2017 NHL draft and is now captain of the New Jersey Devils in the world's best ice hockey league. Every summer he returns to the National Sports Centre in Magglingen to train. We met up for a chat with the affable Valais native on the terrace of the Grand Hôtel.
Bastian Wyss: Master’s student, curling coach and language fan
For Bastian Wyss, versatility is the name of the game. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Eastern European Studies from Basel and is enrolled at the University of Magglingen in the Master of Science in Sports with Specialization in Elite Sports. What prompted this change of course, and how is he enjoying his studies in Magglingen?
SFISM Ethics Symposium on Athlete Power and Representation
The next SFISM online ethics symposium will take place on 15 November 2023 on Athlete Power and Representation. This is about the right of athletes to have a say in their sport.
Israeli delegation visits Magglingen and Tenero
At the end of May, the Federal Office of Sport received a delegation from Israel’s Wingate Institute, with which it has a cooperation agreement.
SFISM Colloquium on Women in Elite Sport
Female athletes have different physical and psychological prerequisites than male athletes when it comes to athletic performance. Despite this, only six per cent of all scientific studies on sport are specific to women. The colloquium, which was organised by the Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen (SFISM) together with Swiss Olympic, informed participants about existing services for Swiss female athletes, presented practical teaching examples on the topic from the SFISM and highlighted research projects in Norway focusing specifically on women in sport.
Focus on staff: the 2022 SFISM annual report
At the SFISM, bright, diverse and creative staff members are the heart of the institution. They reflect its values and work tirelessly to see that the SFISM achieves its goals, year in and year out.
Ukrainian researcher couple can stay in Magglingen
Two researchers from Ukraine can be engaged for another year at the Federal Office of Sport FOSPO affiliated Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen SFISM.
Magglingen Thinkathlon 2023: multidisciplinary and innovative
This year's Magglingen Thinkathlon, a special block week in the Bachelor's degree programme at the Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen SFISM, was attended by nine of its own students, as well as nine students from the Department of Technology and Information Technology at Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH. The aim of the event was to work an assignment devised by a sports market company on promoting occupational health as part of a joint exchange.
A great deal of discipline and good time management: Lorina Zelger, Master's student and ski racer
Lorina Zelger is studying for a Master's degree in Elite Sport in Magglingen and is currently in Swiss Ski's B squad. How does she manage to juggle her two roles? We met with her to find out.
International athletics coaches at Sports Coach Education Switzerland
“Self and Team Management” – that was the topic of the one-week module Sports Coach Education Switzerland (TBS Week), which was held from 12 until 16 September in Magglingen. The participants were athletics coaches from the “Elite Strength and Conditioning Course” from five countries.
Semester begins: 113 students start at the SFISM
The autumn semester 2022 began on 19 September. Alongside the ongoing programmes, a total of 31 women and 82 men started the three courses SFISM Bachelor of Science in Sport, SFISM Master of Science in Sports with Specialisation in Elite Sports and Master of Science in Sports Sciences (joint Masters with the University of Fribourg).
When Canadians engage in Swiss wrestling and Germans play lacrosse with Swiss
Great mood, fantastic weather: 32 students from four universities in three countries (Vancouver, Canada; Hamburg and Deggendorf, Germany; and SFISM, Switzerland) took part in a two-week International Summer School in Magglingen. The project, which aims to promote an intercultural exchange between students and teachers, was a complete success.
Aptitude assessment 2022: slight increase in proportion of women
Around 100 candidates participated in this year's aptitude assessment which took place over three days and is a key part of the admission process for future students in the Bachelor's course at SFISM that begins in the autumn. Thanks to the commitment of the Magglingen team with numerous helpers, the admission test was conducted smoothly and without injuries.
How is the mental health of Swiss elite athletes?
The broad-based research project supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) "Understanding and promoting mental health of competitive athletes" aims to learn more about the mental health of Switzerland's elite athletes. The three-year project commenced in 2022 under the leadership of sports psychology researcher Dr Philipp Röthlin. How is the project coming along?
Women's national football team embarks on Euro adventure with support from Magglingen
Switzerland’s women’s football team has qualified for the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 in England on 6–31 July 2022. The Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen (SFISM) assisted the team with its preparations by conducting performance diagnostics.
Ukrainian researchers at SFISM
On 1 June 2022, Viktoriia Nagorna and Artur Mytko started working at the Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen (SFISM). They come from Kyiv in Ukraine and are both contributing to the "DigitalTwin" research being conducted by the Performance Sport section, a project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF).
The 2021 SFISM Annual Report is here!
The work performed in compiling the self-evaluation report shaped the past year, in the view of the SFISM, and the construction of the two new buildings contributed to the appearance of Magglingen. The 2021 Annual Report also describes other things that were started or which were ongoing at the SFISM.
First meeting with the newly constituted SFISM Advisory Board
At the beginning of March, Matthias Remund, FOSPO Director, the SFISM management and the newly constituted SFISM Advisory Board met for an initial exchange. SFISM welcomes the four members Dr Martina van Berkel, Anna Hellman, Prof. em. Dr Bengt Kayser and Prof. em. Dr Daniel Buser.
Study on elite sport in Switzerland: Sports policy support measures showing an impact
Swiss sport was supported by a raft of sports policy measures between 2011 and 2019. They contribute to building an intact competitive profile in the elite sports sector and have a positive impact on athletes’ prospects as well as coaches’ working conditions. These are key findings of the study entitled “Elite sport in Switzerland – Snapshot SPLISS-CH 2019” conducted by the Federal Office of Sport FOSPO in collaboration with Swiss Olympic. The study was presented today in Bern at a media conference with Federal Councillor Viola Amherd.
The SFISM Annual Report is ready
The report provides a concise overview of the activities of the Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen SFISM in the past year, which – dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic – proved very challenging for everyone.
A look back at Sunset Summer School 2020
The Sunset Summer School on multidisciplinary athlete development in performance sport, conducted online by the Elite Sport department of SFISM from 7–10 September 2020, went off (almost) smoothly. It’s worth taking a look back.
SFISM's 2019 annual report is available
Every year again and yet different: SFISM's 2019 annual report comes with its familiar structure, but in a new look.
Mongolian cross-country skiing coaches benefit from training in Switzerland thanks to FOSPO
At the invitation of the Federal Office of Sport FOSPO, 15 budding cross-country ski coaches from Mongolia visited Switzerland from 11 to 24 January. The selected guests from the Mongolian Ski Association were coached by experts in Andermatt and the Vallée de Joux, and attended the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Lausanne.
Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen SFISM
Hauptstrasse 247
2532 Magglingen