ATHLETE NEWS No record is safe from him: Swiss wheelchair athlete and BE THE CHANGE athlete Marcel Hug is in impressive early form in the United Arab Emirates and is once again starting the track season with world records.
He is the fastest silver bullet in the world: 37-year-old Marcel Hug from Thurgau, known far beyond the wheelchair sports scene under the nickname " Swiss Silver Bullet ", is off to a hot start in the new track season.
At the 11th Sharjah International Open Athletics Meeting (20-22 February), the eight-time Swiss Para-athlete of the year secured another world record on the track . With a time of 1:27.77 over 800 metres, Hug smashed the record held by American Daniel Romanchuk on Monday, beating it by almost two seconds.
Two days later, the four-time gold winner of the 2021 Paralympics in Tokyo improved his own world record over 5000 meters by an impressive 10 seconds to 9:22:72.
Thumbs up from BE THE CHANGE too! Congratulations Marcel!
Oldie but a goldie
The BE THE CHANGE athlete now holds six world records: 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, half marathon and marathon. He broke the latter in Tokyo 2021, replacing his compatriot and wheelchair sports pioneer Heinz Frei after 22 years.
The fast track in Sharjah seems to suit Marcel Hug: At the start of last season, he also reclaimed the 5000m world record at the same venue. His next competitions will be from February 26th to March 1st at the Grand Prix Dubai before he travels on to the Tokyo Marathon.
In the spirit of the English expression “oldie but a goldie”, the question now remains: When will Hug change his nickname to “Swiss Gold Bullet”?
Results in PDF: 11th Sharjah International Open Athletics Meeting 2023.pdf
To person
Marcel Hug was born with spina bifida in Pfyn, Thurgau, in 1986. He competed in his first competition in a racing wheelchair at the age of 10. In 2004 and 2008, alongside his sports commercial apprenticeship, he took part in the Paralympics twice as an amateur (2 x bronze), before becoming a full-time professional in 2010. Hug is a multiple world record holder, world champion, Paralympic winner, eight-time Swiss Paralympic Athlete of the Year and, since the beginning of 2021 , BE THE CHANGE athlete . He owes his nickname "Swiss Silver Bullet" to his silvery helmet and his bullet-like speed. The 37-year-old has been living and training in Nottwil, Lucerne, since 2004. Every year, he organizes the “ Swiss Silver Bullet Camp ” at the Swiss Paraplegic Center together with his long-time trainer Paul Odermatt, an international training camp for young athletes and newcomers in wheelchair athletics.