Thibault Métraux

Switzerland

Residence	Leysin, SUI
Occupation	Athlete, Student
Languages	English, French
Higher education	Geography, Sports Science - University of Lausanne: Switzerland

Sport Specific Information

Club / Team	Lausanne Short Track: Switzerland
Reason for choosing this sport	He played ice hockey from an early age, and discovered short track through a recruitment programme that was looking for young sporting prospects ahead of the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland. "I received an email from my hockey coach. I went on to try the sport and I was hooked. The speed and contact with others is an incredible feeling. After more than eight years playing ice hockey, I was happy to move to an individual sport."

General Interest

Ambitions	To compete at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. He also plans to work as a coach or sports teacher once he retires from the sport. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023; fisu.net, 03 Jan 2023)
Awards and honours	In 2019 he took part in the torch relay ahead of the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland. (24heures.ch, 18 Nov 2019; Instagram profile, 02 Oct 2019)

Sport Specific Information

When and where did you begin this sport?

He took up the sport in 2016 in Leysin, Switzerland.

Social Media

General Interest

Memorable sporting achievement	Competing at the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
Sporting philosophy / motto	"Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships." [Michael Jordan] (Facebook profile, 29 Feb 2024) "Train hard, it will pay off." (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
Hobbies	Cycling, listening to music, sport. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
Most influential person in career	His family. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
Hero / Idol	Russian short track skater Victor An. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
Nicknames	Pepito ["My first coach called me this, I don't really know the reason but I like it."] (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023)
Other sports	He has competed on the speed skating World Cup circuit, and also participated in speed skating at the 2024 European Single Distances Championships in Heerenveen, Netherlands. (SportsDeskOnline, 12 Mar 2024)

Championships results	Year	Competition	Event	Rank
Championships results
	2021/2022	World Championships	1000m	25
	2019/2020	European Championships	1500m	26
	2020/2021	European Championships	1500m	27
	2020/2021	World Championships	1000m	30
	2021/2022	World Championships	Overall	31
	2021/2022	World Championships	500m	31
	2021/2022	World Championships	1500m	31
	2020/2021	European Championships	Overall	31
	2020/2021	World Championships	1500m	32
	2020/2021	European Championships	1000m	32
	2019/2020	World Junior Championships	500m	36
	2020/2021	European Championships	500m	36
	2020/2021	World Championships	Overall	37
	2019/2020	European Championships	Overall	37
	2019/2020	European Championships	1000m	37
	2022/2023	World Championships	1500m	39
	2020/2021	World Championships	500m	40
	2019/2020	European Championships	500m	40
	2019/2020	World Junior Championships	1000m	41
	2019/2020	World Junior Championships	1500m	44
	2022/2023	World Championships	1000m	44
	2022/2023	World Championships	500m	47
	2018/2019	World Junior Championships	1500m	61
	2018/2019	World Junior Championships	1000m	66
	2018/2019	World Junior Championships	500m	67

World Cups	Year	Competition	Event	Rank
World Cups
	2022/2023	Almaty	1000m	25
	2022/2023	Almaty	1500m	30
	2022/2023	Almaty	1500m	32
	2022/2023	Almaty	1500m	34
	2022/2023	Dresden	1500m	35
	2022/2023	Dresden	1000m	41
	2023/2024	Gdansk	1000m	46
	2023/2024	Gdansk	1500m	49
	2021/2022	World Cup Classification	500m	69
	2021/2022	World Cup Classification	1000m	77
	2021/2022	World Cup Classification	1500m	79