by Stuart Weir
Audrey Werro
2025 was a year of great progress for Swiss 800m runner, Aurey Werro. She started the year with a PR of 1:57.76, which she was to better seven times in 2025 – including setting a Swiss national record three times.
She was in a good position in the final of the European Indoors when she went down in a tangle of legs on the tight indoor bends. To her credit, she got up and finished in 2:27. She commented afterwards: “I was trying to keep my spot and to stop others passing me but I ran a lot on the outside. Before the last 100m I thought it would be still possible for me to pass and get to the first place. I knew I was in a good shape. But I have been pushed. When I fell I knew it was all over. Actually, I don’t even know if someone pushed me. Everything happened so fast. Today, I was sure I could get at least on the podium. I was aiming to get the gold medal, but unfortunately, it didn’t get what I wanted”.
She won gold at the European U23s in 1:57.42, came fourth in the World Indoors in 1:59.81(a Swiss indoor record) and later came sixth in the World Championships in 1:56.17. Early in the season she said: “Being 11th in the world with 1:57.25 is amazing, but for me it’s just the beginning.” How right she was in a year of giant steps forward.
Her year’s highlight was winning the Diamond League final in Zurich, a popular result with the Swiss crowd, especially as it was another Swiss record of 1:55.91. She said afterwards: “It is really crazy. It is magic to get a new national record. I improved it so much. Ten days ago it was 1:57 and now it is 1:55. I heard the crowd cheer so loudly for me, it gave me a lot of energy. They encouraged me a lot. I saw the blue line in my first 400m, but in my second 400m I did not notice it any more. My plan was to be first or second after the pacemaker and when I saw that nobody went behind the pacemaker, I took the lead behind the pacemaker. It was so loud and there were so many Swiss flags, that helped a lot. Now I will reduce the rhythm, but of course maintain the shape. The conditions were ideal, also the weather, it was magic, unbelievable. I would not have thought that I could be here at the beginning of the season”.
The year ended with her being chosen as European young athlete of the year.
Video of Swiss Championship
https://twitter.com/i/status/1959627491783705052
