Cathia Schar

Switzerland’s Cathia Schär has grown up racing supertri and is moving from promising youngster to established threat.

Schär was one of the most consistent racers going since starting on the Junior European Cup circuit in 2017, barely posting a poor result.

After gaining much-needed experience, a fourth place in Weert, Netherlands in the 2019 junior European Championship was the first time she was in sight of the podium, and following a runners-up spot in the Swiss national junior champs in Nyon, she switched attention to Lausanne where – with more home support – she placed 16th in the junior worlds. Buoyed by these results, Schär finished 2019 with a runner-up spot in Turkey.

Having missed the entirety of 2020 due to the pandemic, last year there were more improvements with a ninth place in the European Under-23 Championship in Kitzbühel and 16th on World Cup debut in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.

This year Schär has stepped up a level again, finishing fourth in European Cup starts in Spain and Italy, third in Olsztyn, Poland over the super sprint distance – where she was also the first Under-23 triathlete – and then second a week later in Rzeszów, Poland.

Stepping up to the World Triathlon Championship Series in June, Schär made the penultimate round in the eliminator format in Montreal and then an impressive 18th place in a 50-plus strong field in Hamburg, where she also helped the Swiss to fourth in the mixed team relay.

Schär trains at the new national centre in Sursee and picked up two top ten finishes racing the entire supertri League in 2022 as well as 6th place in supertri E Sursee.

Since 2023, her progress has really ticked upwards, and has included top ten finishes at WTCS level, and a lot of experience as part of the Swiss mixed relay team.

Her selection for the Paris Olympics was never in doubt and she finished 43rd. Her ability to compete in short and fast formats will make her a genuine threat in supertri in 2024.