With three Swiss records this season, Nicole Bucher will be Switzerland's biggest hope at the 2009 European Athletics Indoor Championships.

Swiss Athletics has named a 5-member team for the 2009 European Athletics Indoor Championships to be held in Torino from March 6-8.

With an average age of 22, the emphasis is clear for the Swiss - team for future.  Promising sprinter Pascal Mancini, semi-finalists in the last U20 World Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland will carry the Swiss hopes in Torino.

In the women's category Hurdler Lisa Urech also a semi-finalists in the last U20 World Championships in Bydgoszcz and Long Jumper Irene Pusterla, 6th in the U20 European Championships 2007 in Hengelo, will spearhead Swiss challenge.

All three are the under23 record holders in Switzerland.
 
Hurdler Andrea Kundert with a personal best mark of 13.41, was touted as one of the biggest Swiss hopes in Beijing besides distance runner Viktor Röthlin, but an ill-timed illness robbed him of an opportunity to even compete. The 2003 European U20 Championships silver medalllist will seek his due in Torino. His goal for the top continental indoor event is a new Swiss Indoor Record (7.62) and at least making it to the Final!
 
Pole Vaulter Nicole Büchler, who has created three new Swiss record (4.30, 4.40, and 4.45) in the last five events is in red-hot form and may fetch a medal for Switzerland in Torino. She hopes to improve her personal best again in Torino (4.50). At the National Championships last Sunday she jumped 4.40.

She was recenly named Swiss Athlete of the Year 2008 Female, while Viktor Rothlin was presented the award in the Male category.

The Swiss Athletics have put Julien Fivaz (Long jump/7.81PB) and Andreas Baumann (60m/6.74) on the reserve list and will confirm their participation only after they reach the qualifying standard (7.85 and 6.70) by this weekend.

The Swiss Team for Torino:
 
Men:
Pascal Mancini (60m/SB 6.73)
Andreas Kundert (60m hurdles/7.65)
 
Women:
Lisa Urech (60 m hurdles/8.20)
Irene Pusterla (Long jump/6.46)
Nicole Büchler (Pole vault/4.45)