The CISM Regional Tournament in Thun's Guntelsey offered three days of high-level competitions. The Swiss participants delivered excellent performances, winning multiple medals.
TWO INDIVIDUAL GOLDS FOR DUFAUX
Gilles Dufaux excelled in the standard rifle competition at 300m in three positions, winning the gold medal with 587 points. He continued his success in the military rapid fire event, where he also won gold with 578 points. Dufaux, Pascal Bachmann, and Sandro Greuter won gold in the team event for standard rifle 300m in three positions and silver in the military rapid fire 300m 3x20.
STRONG WOMEN
Muriel Züger won the gold medal in the 50m three positions event with 590 points, while Franziska Stark secured bronze. Together with Sarina Hitz, they won the team event. "Prone Queen" Anja Senti also shone, winning the gold medal in the 50m prone individual event with 625.2 points. In the team event, Muriel Züger, Franziska Stark, and Sarina Hitz won silver behind Austria.
BRONZE FOR PISTOL LEGEND STEVE DEMIERRE
Steve Demierre, a legend in pistol competitions, won the bronze medal with the center-fire pistol at 25m.
"UNOFFICIAL EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP"
Although military competitions receive little public attention, events like the CISM Regional Tournament in Thun offer military marksmen an optimal opportunity to compete internationally while fulfilling their service days.Patrik Roland Fluri, Chief of CISM Swiss Shooting, highlights the attractiveness of the tournament: "The Regional Tournament in Thun is considered the most attractive CISM competition worldwide. The Swiss team, largely composed of elite athletes, is world-class, as is the CISM staff, whom we specially train every year." Around 80 military and civil protection personnel were involved, with 14 nations participating, 120 shooters, and about 40 coaches and attendants, totaling 240 people.
CAMARADERIE AT THE CORE
An essential aspect of the CISM is the direct contact among participants from different nations. "The shooters participating in our regional tournament are all top-level athletes in the shooting sport. The competition level is very high, in essence, an unofficial European championship," says Fluri proudly. Open exchanges with military personnel from various countries offer new perspectives and foster camaraderie. "Friendship through sport" is the CISM motto, and it is not just a slogan. For example, the Swiss team's coach noticed a Swedish shooter having difficulties and gave her coach a tip, which helped her improve her performance. This kind of support and camaraderie makes CISM competitions special, says Fluri. // Swiss Shooting