"I can live my passion – that is a privilege."

With two gold medals at the 2023 World Championships in Glasgow and a world record over 200 m, professional cyclist Flurina Rigling is one of Switzerland's most successful athletes. However, the 27-year-old's route to the international competition podium was more challenging than those of most other sports stars. This is because Flurina Rigling was born with only one finger on each of her hands and one toe on each of her feet.

"Even as a young girl, I was fascinated by the athletes I saw on television," she remembers. Her sister rowed at elite level. But for Flurina Rigling, her dream of a career as an athlete appeared unachievable: "I always thought it was impossible for me because I have a disability." She didn't begin elite-level sport until the age of 22: "Dani Hirs, the national paracycling coach, infected me with his passion and enthusiasm for cycling."

The fact that Flurina Rigling is now an extremely successful cyclist is not a matter of course. Her disability means that it is more difficult for her to transfer kinetic energy to the bike through the interplay of her feet, knees and hips. Her ability to grip is also restricted. This means that she is unable to ride a standard bike and requires adaptations to the bicycle and her shoes. Behind her is a whole team of physiotherapists, orthotists and skilled bicycle mechanics, who customize her equipment to meet her needs: "This always entails fiddling about and trying things out, and often means making the impossible possible."

One of the people involved in this experimentation is Laurent Hoffmann from NUMO: The orthotist and kinesiologist developed special shoes for Flurina Rigling "to enable her to transfer the power from her legs to the pedals." It was a lengthy process: "It took 15 or 16 months from the initial discussion to the moment the shoe could be used in a competition." Her personal coach, Michi Pleus, is also hugely important in the background: "I create Flurina's training plans and support her to ensure she can deliver at the right moment." Michi Pleus and Flurina Rigling are in constant dialogue, and a good friendship has developed from the initial coaching.

Another prerequisite for Flurina Rigling's success are her sponsors, such as Zurich Switzerland, as individual equipment customizations are expensive. Her sport-mad family are also completely behind her and share her passion for elite-level sport. "I have to keep overcoming huge challenges with the help of my team. But when we find a solution, it makes the success all the sweeter. We achieve this together and celebrate together too."

Flurina Rigling trains for 20 hours a week on average – but paracycling is just one part of her life: She will soon complete a master's degree in political science. In her hectic day-to-day life, she is continually confronted with the challenge of finding the right balance between demand, recovery and advancement: "To be able to perform at the highest level constantly, I have to repeatedly test and push back my boundaries. At the same time, I cannot permanently exceed my boundaries, neither physically nor mentally." That's why Flurina Rigling continuously incorporates short spells of recovery into her everyday life and tries, for example, to deliberately enjoy a moment in the sunshine. She also relaxes on walks in the forest, when gardening or swimming, or by talking to her family.

For Flurina Rigling, cycling is a life school: "I know how I deal with stress, I am resilient, I can solve problems and better accept setbacks in the knowledge that I always give my best." These puzzle blocks also help her in her everyday life, in family life and in her professional life. At the same time, the sport makes her happy: "For me, cycling is a great sensation because I feel free. It is a privilege for me to be able to live my passion." She also values the contact with other para-athletes: "People have crazy life stories, but it's not usually about them at all but about the sport."

At present, the 27-year-old is staking everything on elite-level sport, but professionally in the medium term she sees herself at an intersection where sport and society meet – "in an association, in politics or even in the media. I want to use my strengths and my very personal life story as a resource to do some good."

She is also thinking to the future in terms of retirement provision: "As an elite athlete I have to take care of my own financing. I see myself as an entrepreneur, and it is evident to me that I have to take my future in hand." Even though her retirement is still a very long time away, Flurina Rigling thinks it is important to consider it. "Thanks to Zurich's support, I have a great opportunity to think about financial issues already. They aren't something you learn about at school. That's why I'm glad to be able to discuss them."

Flurina's dream for the future: "That I can continue to advance down my path alongside my team." She still wants to achieve a great deal in terms of sport, but equal opportunities in sport is a matter particularly close to her heart: "I hope that the achievements of para-athletes will gain greater recognition and visibility. I also want to make women in cycling more visible. I would like to smooth the path for future athletes through my story and to open up prospects for people with disabilities in general." After all, success, for her, is not the medals themselves but the path that has been traveled. "Since I was born, I have had to accept repeated setbacks and overcome many hurdles. These have made my World Championship titles all the greater for me. I know how far I have come."