Andre Bucher follow Wilfred Bugei (Edmonton 2001) (© Getty Images)
Switzerland’s André Bucher, 30, announced Friday that he is to retire from athletics due to a persistent heel injury.
The highlight of Bucher’s career was winning the 2001 World Championship title in Edmonton, Canada, at 800m in a time of 1:43.70. It was Switzerland’s first ever track title at World or Olympic level.
2001 was a marvellous year for the Swiss who on his homecoming to Europe from Canada celebrated in style by setting the current national 800m record of 1:42.55 with victory in front of his home crowd at the Zürich Golden League meeting. In total Bucher took 12 victories that year at 800m, including a World bronze medal indoors, and by the end of the summer was one of six athletes to share the Golden League Jackpot.
Bucher ran sub-1:45.00 on 30 occasions in his career, and won two silvers at European Championships (1998 and 2002) and took the runner’s-up spot at European Indoor Championships 2002. His best performance at the Olympics was fifth in 2000.
The last race of Bucher’s career was at the ISTAF Golden League meeting in Berlin, Germany on 4 September 2005 when he ran 1:45.89 as 8th.
Chris Turner for the IAAF
André Bucher (Born on 19 October 1976)
Personal bests:
400m
Outdoor 46.32 (2000); Indoor 47.66 (2001)
800m
Outdoor 1:42.55 NR (2001); Indoor 1:44.93 NR (2002)
1000m
Outdoor 2:15.63 NR (2001);
1500m
Outdoor 3:38.44 (1996)
5000m
Outdoor 14:06.77 (1998)