Audrey Verreau
2025 was a breakthrough year for Swiss 800m runner Ori Vero. He started the year with a PR of 1:57.76, which he would have to better seven times in 2025, including setting the Swiss national record three times.
She was in a good position in the final of the European Indoors when she went down the indoor curls with tangled legs. To his credit, he got back up and finished in 2:27. “I was trying to hold my place and not let others pass me, but I was running on the outside a lot. Until the last 100 meters I thought it would still be possible to get through and get to first place. I knew I was in good shape. But I was pushed. When I fell, I knew it was over. In fact, I didn’t even know anyone was that fast. From the podium, I was striving to get a gold medal, but unfortunately, I didn’t get what I wanted.”
He won gold at the European Under-23 Championships in 1:57.42, finished fourth at the World Indoor Championships in 1:59.81 (a Swiss indoor record) and later finished sixth at the World Championships in 1:56.17. At the beginning of the season he said: “Being 11th in the world in 1:57.25 is amazing, but for me it’s just the beginning.” How right he was in a year of giant strides.
The highlight of his year was winning the Diamond League final in Zurich, a famous result for the Swiss, especially as it was another Swiss record of 1:55.91. Then he said: “It’s really crazy. It’s magical to get a new national record. I improved it so much. Ten days ago it was 1:57 and now it’s 1:55. I heard the crowd cheering so loudly for me, it gave me a lot of energy. They encouraged me a lot. I saw the blue line in my first 40, but not in any 40 seconds. It was to be first or second after the pacemaker, and when I saw that no one went behind the pacemaker, it was so loud and there were so many Swiss flags that helped a lot, but of course I’ll keep the way I can think.
The year ended with him being chosen as the European Young Sportsman of the Year.
Video of the Swiss Championship
https://twitter.com/i/status/1959627491783705052
