Fabienne Hoenke credits mental strength for sprinting breakthrough

Swiss sprinter Fabienne Hoenke has achieved an international breakthrough this year, winning European Championship silver in the 4×100-metre relay and the 200 metres at Weltklasse Zürich, SRF reports.

The 22-year-old from Möhlin in the canton of Aargau finished fourth in the 200-metre final in Birmingham, missing out on the podium. She said she was still very proud of her performance, which was the third-fastest time of her career.

Hoenke believes her mental strength has been central to her success. She said she had managed to stay relaxed and avoid tensing up during an extraordinary season. She works with a mental coach and knows that difficult periods will eventually come.

She trains in Aarau’s Telli district, where the noise from lawnmowers and school sports classes does not bother her. Hoenke said variety was important and that life should not consist only of sport.

Hoenke is also focusing on strength training, which she believes could help her improve over the first 100 metres. Away from athletics, she is about to begin studying psychology at the University of Bern. Sport will remain her profession, while she considers her studies a hobby.

Her goals are to stay healthy and compete at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.