Swiss Stories

Élise Chabbey

Swiss pro cyclist and doctor, the double life of Élise Chabbey

Society
At 27 years old, Élise Chabbey from Geneva is already an accomplished multidisciplinary athlete. In 2012, she competed in canoeing and kayaking at the London Olympics. In 2017, she finished best Swiss female runner in the legendary Sierre-Zinal mountain race. In 2020, she worked as a doctor at the Geneva University Hospitals at the height of the coronavirus crisis, but this did not prevent her from becoming Swiss road cycling champion a few weeks later. Quite a double life.

by Bertrand Monnard

Konzertsaal Tonhalle Maag, Zürich, Switzerland © Unsplash @gwundrig

Swiss choral singing: a tradition that unites

Society
Singing together is about meeting, communicating, sharing a part of yourself and connecting with like-minded people. The importance of Switzerland's choral singing tradition is reflected in the number of young people making up today's ensembles.
Félix Vallotton, The Gruerie Forest and the Meurissons Ravine, 1917 © Wikipedia Commons

Tour Switzerland through 20 works of art

Society
Switzerland’s bucolic landscapes may have inspired a thousand paintings, but the country’s lively art scene and creative spirit are not limited to these alone. Take a short tour of Switzerland through 20 representative works, from Ferdinand Hodler to Renée Levi.
Funicular railway Stoos © Doppelmayr/Garaventa

The Garaventas: the Swiss cable car pioneers

Society
Like Nestlé and Maggi, Garaventa is another Swiss business success story that all began with immigration. The company founded by the Garaventa family is now the global leader in cable transport systems.
Justine Mettraux aboard Teamwork during the Solitaire du Figaro in 2016

The Swiss who shine at sea

Society
This November, Geneva-born Alan Roura is setting sail for his second Vendée Globe – the hardest solo sailing race in the world, and a veritable Swiss tradition for getting your sea legs. Despite not having their own sea, Switzerland's sailors have been taking part in the most prestigious events over the last forty years. We've talked to journalist and sailing photographer Jean-Guy Python who recently published a book on this epic Swiss tale.

by Bertrand Monnard

© ETH Zürich / Nicola Pitaro

Technology that moves you

Society
Getting up off the sofa, climbing stairs, slicing bread or changing a light bulb: everyday tasks like these can be a real obstacle for people with disabilities. Assistive technologies are there to help with such day-to-day challenges, but that's not all. Some people are even taking it to championship level – like the ETH Zurich international 'cybathlon', a rather unique competition.
Florence Schelling

Florence Schelling, the woman at the top of a once male-dominated world

Society
SC Bern is Switzerland's largest ice hockey club, with a CHF 60 million budget and home crowds of up to 17,000 spectators. It has won the Swiss championships 16 times. And it has just appointed a woman as its new general manager and sports director, a first in the sport's history. The smart, self-assured 31-year-old from Zurich used to play in goal for the women's national team. Now she's ready for her next challenge, and it's a surprise choice that has created a stir around the world.

by Bertrand Monnard