Switzerland is one of a few countries that participated world championship from its very beginning. Just on the first world championship, organized by ICF in 1957, there could be seen the Swiss legends like Mrs. Vieser, Mr. Berli or Mr. Schreck. Those men became first Swiss medalist during 50th and 60th of 20th Century. But since 60th the casters split into those that participated ICF championship and those that participated CIPS championships. And so Mr. Vieser participated ICF champs but Mr. Schreck participated the CIPS champs. One of a few exceptions was Mr. Peter Hässig that participated everything he could. So like in 1975 he participated European championship of CIPS(FCS) and then he participated World championship of ICF.

In 70th of 20th Century ICF and CIPS decided to make one rules for both organizations. That time new caster raised - Peter Kläusler. We can find him in result of 3 European championships and 4 World championships. He was very skilled in multi events and fly skish. For 6 times he could get into first 5 casters and he also was 5th in multi triathlon in 1975 (Spa, Belgic).

But best event was the multi distance. No wonder that all 3 medals he got are from multi distance event. In 1975 and 1981 he got bronze medals but the best year was 1980 when he became the world champion in that event, casting over 107 meters and beating all casters by 6 meters (!).

The apple seems not falling far from the tree. But let's talk about it from the start...

Beginning in men category was not easy for Markus. In Switzerland there were two organizations and both claimed 3 starting places at the championships. Communication between both organizations was so bad that in 1984 only casters of one organization participated the world championship and in other years till 1991 Switzerland did not set group for team competition.

Qualification for Markus was hard. There were better caster in his organization. But he took it as a challenge. He kept pushing forward and finally, in 1989, he qualified for Europe Championship in Oslo (Norway). He trained almost exclusively the multi events because he saw his greatest chances there. However, due to an error in registration by our secretary, he was only registered for events 1-8 and wasn’t allowed to compete in the multi events. A pity...

But it was not bad anyway. In fly skish he had full point start. Unfortunately no medal then. He also got among first 10 casters in plug distances, 7th place in single handed and 8th position in double handed. In both events he was the best Swiss caster.

A year later Markus came to Bordeaux (France) and he participated his first world championship. That year he could cast in all events. And it was very interesting.

It was not so good in event of pentathlon or octathlon. Only in arenberg Markus was among first 10 men with result 98 points. Octathlon was crashed by spinning distance double handed scored 0. But then "his" events came. A little warm up by 4th place in multi skish, just 5 point below bronze place (or at least fight for it). Followed by multi distance. That time event were without any final, just the result from base round determined the winner. And that year American legend Chris Korich was winner. But Markus was just behind him and gained silver medal. Missing only 1.5 meter. Those two events, those 4th and 2nd place put Markus to the 1st place in multi duathlon. And so Markus became world championship in that duathlon. Both American legend Steve Rajeff and Chris Korich were just behind him.

But the best moment was in the multi distance. Swiss guys had double there - Markus got silver medal and Peter Hässig got bronze medal. The bronze was the last medal of great, incredibly long a amazing casting career of Peter Hässig. Celebration of the two medals and that two casters was big and Markus still remember that time. Well, maybe the celebration was not so big if Markus can remember it... :)

New millennium and new rules. Final rounds for all events, first 8 men and first 6 ladies. Good change for someone, bad change for another one. But it brought new title to Markus in 2003.

Europe championship in Berlin was in old olympic stadium. Multi distance was very even, first 8 casters' casts did lay in 2 meter range. Markus had the longest cast, close to 105 meters. And close to Markus was Jens. It was not an easy final round. Even Jens got over 106 meters. But it was not enough for beating Markus. He got over 107 meters. Second title for Markus in multi distance. Fourth title overall.

Next Europe and a problem - English guys. One two three and Peter Thain was behind 116 meters distance point in multi distance. He had 5 meter longer cast than anyone else. Markus was third in base round, loosing 8 meters to Peter longest cast. But final round starts from zero for everyone and there was not so obvious who is the best. Peter Thain finally had a cast over 108 meters. But Markus's cast was longer, over 110 meters. So, Markus won this event for third time.

Till end of first decade of new millennium, another quite unexpected gold medal came. Don't want to say that Markus could not cast pentathlon events but only a few times he got some medal from them. And especially gold one was not the regular medal... Well, in 2008 Markus got it. In Polish Krakow 7 castes got full 100 points in arenberg. Including Markus. During final round Markus was very slow "again". Five casters were finished during 1:30, Markus had tome over 2:15. But he was the only one that had 100 points in final too. And so he gained his 6th title of champion.

After silver from 2001 and bronze from 2007 Markus got the gold medal in arenberg. Finally. His last medal on arenberg...

The Poland meant another "for first time" for Markus. He got to final in fly skish. There were 11 hundreds but Markus had fast time enough to get to final. And the final was very thrilling. Due to bad weather conditions no one had 100 points. Markus had 95 points. But he was very fast. So fast that he was the fastest caster. And he got gold medal from fly skish. For first time, Markus got two gold medals on one championship. Fantastic performance.

The jubilee 10th gold got in Spain, year 2016. Michael Harter had surprising 100 points on multi skish. Markus had it too and with two another German casters, Olaf and Heinz, he knew the final would not be easy. And set a fast casting level. True, he was not the fastest. Czech Jan Bombera, enjoying his results, tried to be as fastest as he could. And tried to be as fast as Markus. Was not easy to cast under pressure. But Markus did handle it. Although he tried, he was 1 second slower. But with 100 points, Jan had lower result. Yeah, the 10th gold was gained the hard way... :)

A year later Markus moved to Czechia. As one of three casters he had 95 points. Fastest time put him to start No. 8. And there he set fast casting level again. And for 100 points. Silver Tomasz from Poland had 1 missed cast and 1 minute slower time.

Covid break. No world championship in 2020. It was very close to cancel it even in 2021. Finally the world championship was prepared. In Hungary. Crazy conditions. Wind was blowing all directions. Hard to place the courts, harder to cast there. Markus had big problems to reach at least 80 points. Luckily he got to the final round. Final round was very fast, close to 2 minutes. Bud two Czech guys were faster and missed only once. Markus had 2 zeroes and so he had bronze medal.

A day earlier Markus got to final in fly skish. Having 100 points like 7 other casters. In final several guys were almost running, finishing the casting in a minute and a quarter. Markus was slower, having it done in 2:11. But he did not missed any target, other missed. And so Markus got his next gold. The 13th gold. The last gold so far.

In Tallin 2022 a little of luck was missing. Final round of fly skish, but one target missed. Final of multi skish, but one target missed and two casters faster. Bronze medal, so far 45th medal.

Bychawa 2023 - no medal... :(