ATHLETE NEWS No record is safe from him: The 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 (February 20-22), the eight-time Swiss Para-Athlete of the Year secured another world record on the track . With 1:27.77 over 800 meters on Monday, Hug shattered the record held by American Daniel Romanchuk and beat him by almost two seconds.
Two days later, the four-time gold winner at the 2021 Paralympics in Tokyo improved his own world record in the 5000 meters by an impressive 10 seconds to 9:22:72.
Oldie but a goldie
The BE THE CHANGE athlete now holds six world records: 800m, 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, half marathon and marathon. He cracked the latter in Tokyo 2021 and replaced his compatriot and wheelchair sports pioneer Heinz Frei after 22 years.
By the way, the fast track in Sharjah seems to suit Marcel Hug: at the start of last season he also regained the 5000m world record at the same location. He will compete in his next competitions from February 26th to March 1st. at the Grand Prix Dubai before traveling on to the Tokyo Marathon.
In the spirit of the English expression “Oldie but a goldie”, the question now arises: 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 1986 in Pfyn, Thurgau. He took part in his first competition in a racing wheelchair at the age of 10. In 2004 and 2008, in addition to his sports training, he took part in the Paralympics twice as an amateur (two bronze medals) before becoming a full-time professional in 2010. Hug is a multiple world record holder, world champion, Paralympics winner, eight-time Swiss Paralympic Athlete of the Year and, since the beginning of 2021, also a BE THE CHANGE athlete . It owes its nickname “Swiss Silver Bullet” to its silvery helmet and bullet-like speed. The 37-year-old has lived and trained in Nottwil, Lucerne, since 2004. Every year he organizes the “ Swiss Silver Bullet Camp ”, an international training camp for young athletes and newcomers to wheelchair athletics, at the Swiss Paraplegic Center together with his long-time trainer Paul Odermatt.