Swiss Sports History: Odermatt Surpasses Federer's Award Record

The King of Tennis has been dethroned—at least in one historic metric. Marco Odermatt has cemented his status as a sporting immortal, surging past Roger Federer to claim a record-breaking fourth consecutive Swiss Sportsman of the Year award. While Federer still holds the all-time record with seven total wins, Odermatt’s relentless dominance has secured a streak that even the tennis maestro never achieved.

The 27-year-old from Nidwalden obliterated the competition, commanding a staggering 44.5% of the vote to leave swimmer Noè Ponti (25.4%) and athlete Simon Ehammer (8.7%) trailing in his wake. This accolade is the crowning jewel of a 2024 season that redefined perfection: 13 race wins, the overall World Cup title, and discipline globes in downhill, super-G, and giant slalom. Perhaps most shockingly, he set a new world record with an 874-point lead over his nearest rival in the overall standings.

"It’s hardly possible to repeat a season like this," Odermatt admitted, acknowledging the sheer magnitude of his achievement. Yet, with the Kitzbühel downhill still on his hit list, the skier shows zero signs of slowing down.

Alpine skiing didn't just win the night; it conquered it. Lara Gut-Behrami soared to her third Sportswoman of the Year title, adding the 2024 trophy to her victories in 2016 and 2023. Capturing 32.2% of the vote, the Ticino native held off fierce competition from pole vaulter Angelica Moser and shooter Chiara Leone.

Gut-Behrami’s season was nothing short of a masterclass in resilience and precision. She secured the overall World Cup alongside small globes in giant slalom and super-G, tallying 16 podium finishes and eight victories. However, behind the glitz of the trophy lies a raw, human struggle. "After last season, I was completely empty and asked myself what I was actually doing all this for," she revealed in a candid video address.

Despite the exhaustion, her performance on the slopes remains lethal. By securing her third title, she joins the ranks of Swiss legends Lise-Marie Morerod and Simone Niggli, now trailing only the iconic Vreni Schneider, who holds five titles. Gut-Behrami has proven that even when battling internal doubts, she remains the undisputed queen of the slopes.

Paris 2024 belonged to one woman: Catherine Debrunner. The wheelchair athlete from Thurgau didn't just compete; she dominated, bringing home a staggering five gold medals and one silver. Unbeatable over distances ranging from 400 meters to the marathon, Debrunner was the clear choice for Paralympic Athlete of the Year, defeating nine-time winner Marcel Hug.

"I can’t really put it into words that I’m up here. This award is the icing on the cake of an incredible 2024 season," Debrunner beamed. Her victory highlights a golden era for Swiss para-athletics, further emphasized by the emotional tribute to Heinz Frei.

Frei, a titan of the sport, received the honorary award for a career that defies logic. Over four decades, the 66-year-old amassed 27 Paralympic medals. Having competed in his final World Championships in Zurich just months ago, Frei’s legacy is now immortalized alongside past legends like Adolf Ogi and Peter Sauber. "You have to watch my heart a little when it comes to surprises like this," Frei joked, visibly moved by the standing ovation.

While individual brilliance took center stage, collective grit was equally celebrated. Granit Xhaka, the heartbeat of the national football team and Bayer Leverkusen, was crowned MVP of the Year. Xhaka’s 2024 was historic: a German championship, a DFB Cup win, and a Europa League final, all while captaining Switzerland to the Euro quarter-finals. Garnering 38.9% of the vote, he beat out NHL star Kevin Fiala.

"There’s a lot of work and hunger behind an award like this," Xhaka stated, emphasizing the relentless drive required to stay at the top of European football.

Meanwhile, the Team of the Year award provided a bittersweet moment for beach volleyball duo Tanja Hüberli and Nina Brunner. After a nine-year partnership that culminated in an Olympic bronze medal in Paris, the pair are parting ways. Their victory was a fitting send-off for one of Switzerland's most successful sporting partnerships. "The fact that we are here shows that it was worth believing in ourselves," Brunner noted, marking the end of an era with the ultimate domestic recognition.

The 2024 Sports Awards confirm one undeniable fact: Swiss skiing is experiencing a golden age that rivals any in history. With Odermatt and Gut-Behrami sweeping the top honors, the nation's dominance on snow is absolute. This is not just about winning races; it is about setting standards that the rest of the world struggles to comprehend.

Odermatt’s eclipse of Federer’s consecutive record signals a shift in the Swiss sporting pantheon. While Federer remains the global icon of Swiss excellence, Odermatt is the new face of its relentless competitive spirit. The bar has been raised to stratospheric heights. As these athletes look toward the 2025 season, the question isn't who can beat them, but rather, how much further can they push the boundaries of human performance? For Switzerland, the view from the top has never looked better.