ATHLETISSIMA MEMORIES – In 1978, Cornélia Bürki breaks the Swiss national record and wins the 1’500m!

In 1978, Cornélia Bürki breaks the Swiss national record and wins the 1’500m in 4’07″71! With braided pigtails, half-closed eyes and an ecstatic smile, she savoured the happiness of being “the fastest woman in the country” for a long time! With this race, she qualified for the European Championships where she placed 6th in the 3’000m and 8th in the 1’500m. A huge triumph considering she knew nothing about athletics five years earlier. In 1988, she went on to be the flag-bearer for the Swiss Olympic Team at the Olympic Games in Seoul!