Rising Stars Gather in St. Moritz for On’s Youth Camp
In the high-altitude paradise of St. Moritz, rising stars from across Europe gather to experience the life of a professional athlete, courtesy of Swiss sportswear brand On
ST. MORITZ, Switzerland, October 22, 2024 — In the high-altitude paradise of St. Moritz, some of Europe’s most promising young athletes, aged 15 to 17, have come together for the third edition of Swiss sportswear brand On’s Youth Camp. Over ten days, these middle- and long-distance running talents from across Europe experienced life as professional athletes, immersed in training, education, and mentorship.
The athletes, selected based on their exceptional performances, represented Switzerland, Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and Norway. Guided by former professional athlete Emelia Gorecka and Dr. Georgie Bruinvels, a renowned Research Scientist and Female Athlete Researcher, the camp provided an invaluable opportunity to learn, train, and develop alongside elite mentors. Alongside the physical training elements, the athletes were exposed to workshops covering key areas such as nutrition, altitude training, media interaction, anti-doping, and sports psychology.
“It has been a wonderful experience working with such a talented group at this year’s On Youth Camp,” said Gorecka. “The camp's focus was to provide an insight into what life as a professional athlete could be like for these athletes in the future if they choose to follow this pathway. Here we provided an inclusive training schedule - including altitude acclimatization, gym activations, and various running drills. The athletes also attended weekly educational workshops designed to further their awareness and knowledge around key high-performance topics.”
St. Moritz, known as the “running mecca,” of Switzerland, is also home to On’s European team, the On Athletics Club Europe (OAC). This created a unique opportunity for the young athletes to meet and learn from professionals who have already made it to the world stage. OAC team member Luke McCann was impressed with the rising stars:
“It was fantastic to see so many hungry young athletes asking the right questions and showing such maturity. I’m excited to follow their journeys in the years to come.”
For On, this camp is more than just an event—it’s an investment in the future of the sport. Silja Mühlebach, Athlete Manager at On, emphasized the brand’s commitment:
“The On Youth Camp perfectly blends in with the overall differentiating approach that we, as a brand take when it comes to athlete partnerships. From the very beginning of the On Youth Camp, our vision was to go beyond traditional sponsorship and take a holistic approach to this project. As part of our mission to ignite the human spirit through movement, we aim to inspire the next generation of runners and provide these young talents from across Europe with the chance to live experience life as a professional athlete. The idea of the camp is for all participants to go home with newly learned tools and skill sets that they can implement into their everyday routine that will help them navigate the ups and downs of being an athlete."
After ten days of intense training, workshops, and bonding, participants Fiona von Flüe (Switzerland) and Lyla Belshaw (Great Britain) reflected on their time at the camp:
“The On Youth Camp is an incredible gift. We’re so grateful to have had this opportunity to train at altitude, learn from top professionals, and make friends from across Europe. It’s been an experience we’ll never forget.”
High-resolution images are available for download HERE.
About On
On was born in the Swiss Alps in 2010 with the mission to ignite the human spirit through movement – a mission that still guides the brand today. Fourteen years after market launch, On delivers industry-disrupting innovation in premium footwear, apparel and accessories for high-performance running, outdoor, training, all-day activities and tennis. On’s award-winning CloudTec® innovation, purposeful design and groundbreaking strides within the circular economy have attracted a fast-growing global fan base – inspiring humans to explore, discover and Dream On.
On is present in more than 60 countries globally and engages with a digital community on www.on.com.