From 8 March, the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025 will take place in Turin. the Winter Games for people with intellectual disabilities. For the first time, a dance couple from Switzerland will also be taking part: Victoria Kälin and Lukas Hämmerli.
What can the two 23-year-olds expect in Piedmont when they fly across the parquet floor with other couples in the "Palazzo delle Feste" in Bardonecchia? They are very much looking forward to competing for Switzerland at this major event.
For Lukas, dancing has been a passion since childhood; he discovered it as a 4-year-old and was inspired by his parents. He is also a little nervous this close to the World Winter Games. But at his biggest competition to date, the focus is on the experience, not on winning. Together with Victoria, whom he infected with the dance virus, he also wants to inspire other people and celebrate moving to the beat together.
"I have so much fun with her when we dance," he enthuses about Victoria, with whom he has been dancing together since April 2024. They met eight years ago at the Bühl Foundation curative education school in Wädenswil. Over the past two years, good friends have become a motivated dance couple. They are coached and trained by Philipp Anliker and Christine Hämmerli. Lukas' mother emphasises the "warmth and togetherness" that should always be at the forefront. Victoria&Lukas have already gained some notoriety; a month ago they were featured in the SRF programme sportpanorama.
Photo: WeArePepper/Claudio Kernen
Dance sport, like the speed skating and figure skating disciplines, is included in the programme of this major event for the first time. Around 1,500 athletes from all over the world will be competing at various venues in Piemon as part of the Special Olympics World Winter Games. The 68-strong Swiss delegation is made up of 39 athletes and 29 coaches.
The STSV wishes the young dance couple every success in Turin!
Photo: WeArePepper/Claudio Kernen
Photo: Valeriano Di Domineco
