In Simon Wieland’s family, sport isn’t just a pastime, it’s a way of life: his father was a javelin thrower, his mother a discus thrower, as was his grandfather, who competed in the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki. “I pretty much grew up on the sports field,” says Simon. “I naturally played many sports, but I quickly realized that javelin throwing suited me the best.”

Simon’s five siblings were also active and took part in competitions. “The competitive spirit between us really motivated me.” Even back then, his long-term goal was clear, though: to compete in the Olympic Games.

Setbacks that carry you forward – rather than holding you back

2017 brought a major setback: Simon suffered a fractured elbow as a result of the tough demands of the training and competitive events. “I thought I’d never be able to throw the javelin again,” he says. Instead of giving up, however, he continued his training at a mental level by visualizing the physical processes and techniques in his mind.

“You have to plan out everything yourself – your sponsors, training, competitions.”

Simon Wieland

After some 18 months, Simon was able to gradually resume javelin throwing. He quickly returned to top form, going on to win the 2019 European Championships.

At that time, the media were predicting a golden career for Simon. Unfortunately, back problems initially prevented further success. “It was then that I learned to listen to my body and place my trust in things eventually turning out alright,” he explains.

A year of highlights

Simon Wieland returned – and what a comeback! 2025 turned out to be his most successful year to date: in July, he competed at the FISU World University Games in Germany’s Ruhr district, winning the gold medal with a throw of 79.33 meters. For Simon, it was a relief: “The FISU World University Games hold a special place in my heart. So winning the medal was a big confidence boost.” 

After that it was one highlight after another, or rather, one throw after another: at the “Diamond League Final” which took place in Zurich at the end of August, he pulled off a 81.29 m throw. The crowning glory followed a month later at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo: with an 82.26 m throw, Simon set a new Swiss record for the javelin – despite having gone down with a cold shortly before the competition.

In honor of his achievements, Simon was presented with the “Swiss Students Sports Award” in the fall.

University studies: structure combined with sport

Since the fall semester of 2020, Simon Wieland has been enrolled in economics at the University of Bern. He will complete his bachelor’s degree in the summer of 2026 and is already planning to pursue a master’s degree. Simon’s daily routine is tightly organized: university in the morning, training and physiotherapy in the afternoon, studying in the evening. Balancing university studies with sport isn't easy, but it is possible, explains Wieland. Above all else, it’s important to get a good night’s sleep. Anyone who thinks that top-level sport can be done on the side is mistaken, “You have to plan out everything yourself – your sponsors, training, competitions.”

For a long time, Simon also organized his studies on his own. In the run-up to the 2025 Universiade, however, he took advantage of the University of Bern’s “Top-Class Sport and Studies” program for the first time. Isabelle Stadelmann, the contact person at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, has helped him combine his elite sporting activities with his studies. This allowed him to take an exam early, for instance. Looking back, he says: “The program is fantastic. I should have taken advantage of what it offers much earlier.”