The bar was 3.97 meters when Alexandra Stucki achieved her personal best height in July 2022. The pole vaulter and KV learner at ISS has a clear goal for the coming season: She wants to break the 4-meter mark and thus qualify for the U20 European Championships in Jerusalem.
To put those 4 meters into perspective: The best Swiss female pole vaulter of all time was Nicole Büchler, who retired in 2020. Her Swiss records stand at 4.80 meters (indoor) and 4.78 meters (outdoor). Nicole Büchler first broke the 4-meter mark at age 21. Alexandra Stucki turned 19 in January, so she is effectively two years ahead of the multiple Swiss champion and sixth-place finisher at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
She owes her entry into pole vaulting entirely to her great ambition. While training at her home club, Hochwacht Zug, she was already fascinated by the pole vaulters at the age of ten and was determined to give it a try herself. “You’re too short, you’re a girl, you don’t have the strength for it,” the coaches kept turning her down. “But eventually they gave in,” recalls Alexandra Stucki. “They said I could try it once and then come back in a few years.” Alexandra gave it a try - and impressed them. “After practice, they told me I should come back next week,” she says with a laugh.
Today she trains eight times a week: strength, vertical jump, and recovery sessions take place at the OYM in Zug, while specific pole vault training happens in Zurich. Pole vaulting is the most complex of all track and field disciplines. On top of the enormous training workload, she has weekly piano lessons and an 80-percent workload at ISS. “The schedule is very tight,” says Alexandra Stucki. Going out on the weekend? Other priorities! But she enjoys the little time she has left - whether for herself or with friends - all the more for it.
The commercial apprenticeship for athletes lasts four years. Alexandra Stucki felt right at home at ISS from the very beginning: “My first impression was great. When I introduced myself at ISS, I immediately noticed the positive atmosphere and how friendly everyone was. I thought to myself, it would be cool to work here.” In the summer of 2022, Alexandra Stucki completed the academic portion of her athlete apprenticeship with a grade of 4.9. She’s not entirely satisfied with that. The second, practical portion of the qualification process will follow in the summer of 2023. There, she wants to raise her grade point average to a 5.
She has a good chance of clearing this hurdle as well.
ISS as a Training Company
Every year, ISS trains around 30 young professionals in the fields of building cleaning, facility maintenance, and business administration. In addition to traditional vocational apprenticeships, ISS has been committed to promoting young athletic talent for many years. As a competitive sports-friendly training company, ISS is committed to structuring the curriculum so that apprentices can meet their professional, academic, and athletic requirements while also participating in training and competitions.