The Swiss Students Sports Awards 2026 took place on Friday, October 23, at the Eventfabrik in Bern, Switzerland, bringing together representatives of the Swiss university sports community to celebrate outstanding sporting achievements, dedication and the values of university sport.

The ceremony was attended by members of the EUSA Executive Committee and EUSA staff, who had been invited by Swiss University Sports to join this special occasion during the visit to Lausanne for the second Executive Committee Meeting of the year.

The evening celebrated athletes who successfully combine academic studies with sporting excellence. Among the award recipients were modern pentathletes Florina and Katharina Jurt from the University of Bern, alongside orienteering athlete Pascal Scharer from ETH Zurich.

The Lifetime Award was presented by FISU President Leonz Eder to Dr Christine Stebler from the University of Basel, recognising her sporting career and long-standing contribution to Swiss university sport.

The programme also highlighted initiatives designed to strengthen participation and engagement in university sport. The Uni Race brought together university champions from across the year, with participating universities collecting points through their athletes' achievements, and the University of Lausanne emerging as the winner.
Another initiative was the first edition of the Swiss University Sports Camp, offering students opportunities to participate in sporting and leisure activities and further experience the benefits of an active university community.

 Various segments of the evening saw on stage EUSA EC Member Andreas Csonka, Swiss University Sport Co-President Daniel Studer, Vice-President Sara Fischer, and CEO Raeto Raffainer, welcoming all attendees and introducing the themes and protagonists of the event.

Looking beyond the national level, the event also provided an opportunity to reflect on Switzerland's role in the European university sports movement.
EUSA President Haris Pavletic took the stage to highlight the importance of university sport, congratulating the award recipients and expressing his appreciation for everyone whose commitment helps strengthen student sport and its role in society.

The EUSA European Universities Championships and European Universities Games offer valuable opportunities for Swiss student-athletes and university teams to compete internationally, exchange experiences and strengthen connections with the wider university sports community.
Medallists from the 2026 editions of EUSA events were celebrated on stage.

For EUSA, cooperation with national university sports associations remains essential to developing these opportunities and supporting the growth and visibility of university sport throughout Europe.
The Swiss Students Sports Awards 2026 served as a celebration of student-athletes, their achievements and the people working behind the scenes to support them.

EUSA warmly thanks Swiss University Sports for the invitation and hospitality, as well as for its continued commitment to the development of university sport in Switzerland and across Europe.
For more information on Swiss University Sports, please visit its official website: swissuniversitysports.ch

Photos © Swiss University Sports / Luca Uloth