Radweltmeisterin Marlen Reusser – «Schmerz gehört dazu» | Sternstunde Philosophie | SRF Kultur

Marlen Reusser knows both: triumphs as a world and European champion, and at the same time, bitter defeats such as accidents and a long bout of Covid. But for her, suffering is part of the good life. Barbara Bleisch asks how much pain passion can endure and whether talent brings responsibility. Topics in this episode: 00:00 Intro 10:45 Are victories necessary for a good life? 19:30 What role does talent play? 33:40 Are defeats also part of a good life? 40:09 Overcoming post-Covid illness 54:43 Dealing with pain Marlen Reusser's career is exceptional in many ways: Despite growing up on a farm, she was drawn to the violin and became a junior student at the Bern University of the Arts at the age of 14. Later, she studied medicine, and when she got on a bike in her mid-twenties, she soon left everyone else in her dust. It wasn't until she was 27 that she turned professional, winning virtually everything there was to win in time trials: in addition to the World Championship title, she also won four European Championship titles, an Olympic silver medal, and two Tour de Suisse titles. But alongside these great triumphs, she also experienced crushing defeats, such as when she abandoned a World Championship race. Accidents and illnesses repeatedly set her back, and a severe case of COVID-19, in particular, forced her to take an extended break without knowing if she would ever recover. With the help of hypnosis, as she says, she was eventually able to overcome the illness and, in doing so, gained a new perspective on medicine and her body. Barbara Bleisch speaks with this exceptional athlete about the pain of defeat, mental limitations, the thrill of speed, and the question of whether talent brings responsibility. Philosophy Hour from November 2, 2025 ____________________ ✨ New conversations with fascinating guests every week 💬 Do you have questions, suggestions, or feedback? Then write to us at: [email protected] Program Director: 🎥 Director: Christine Rauschmeier Editors: Jolanda Fazzone, Yvonne Sjöberg, Nina Weiss Producer: Sandra Roth Head of Production: Judith Hardegger SRF 2025 ____________________ Subscribe to SRF Culture Philosophy Hour on YouTube 🔔 https://www.youtube.com/srfkultur?sub... More culture on SRF 👉 https://www.srf.ch/kultur ____________________ The Philosophy Hour fosters in-depth and critical exchange of ideas and delves into the pressing questions of our time. The "Sternstunde Philosophie" (Philosophy Hour) spans a wide range of topics, from current socio-political issues to fundamental philosophical questions: Who is responsible for what? What constitutes human freedom? What determines the meaning of our lives? Guests include prominent figures from science, culture, politics, and business – voices that stimulate thought and reflect on and contextualize current events. ____________________ Hosted by: Barbara Bleisch   / barbarableisch   Olivia Röllin   / oliviaroellin   Yves Bossart   / bossart_yves   Wolfram Eilenberger ____________________ #SRFKultur #SRFKulturSternstunden #SRFSternstunde #Philosophy #TopSports #SRF #Culture