Jonas Raess (born 8 March 1994) is a Swiss long-distance runner. He competed in the 5000 metres at the 2020 Olympics. Additionally, he earned a gold medal at the 2019 Universiade. Currently, he holds the national title for the 5000 metres and national records for the indoor and outdoor 3000 metres as well as the indoor 5000 metres.
Career and background Jonas Raess began his professional career much later on, around 2019, once he had completed his education and graduated with a bachelor's degree. The earlier half of his career was plagued by injuries, which caused Swiss Athletics to remove him from its youth team at a certain point.
He credits his mother for getting him into running when he was young. He entered into an annual running event for children and that sparked his interest in the sport. He did road races but never ran on a track until 2004. He was invited to join TV Unterstrass and trained at the club under Hansruedi Ilg. Then, he changed to LC Regensdorf where Ruedi Meier coached him. He is also a member of the On Athletics Club that is led by American long-distance runner and head coach Dathan Ritzenhein.
2011 Raess made his international debut at the 2011 European Youth Olympic Festival in Trabzon, Turkey and finished in 13th place in the 3000 metres.
2023: 3000 metres record
Raess set a new Swiss record in the 3000 metres on 10 September 2023 at the Hanžeković Memorial in Zagreb, Croatia. Markus Ryffel, the legendary Swiss long-distance runner and Olympic silver medalist in the 5000 metres, held the previous record for 44 years, ever since July 1979. Raess erased almost 6 seconds off Ryffel's time, bringing it down from 7:41.00 to 7:35.12.
Ryffel congratulated Raess on his achievement. Raess revealed that “Ryffel was one of my first well-wishers. He sent me personal messages. He even sent me a personal congratulatory message via video on social media”. Raess continued to share that Ryffel was happy for him and a big fan.
Raess strives to break Ryffel's other record of 13:07.54 in the 5000 metres from the 1984 Olympics. Raess' last attempt in June 2023 fell short by 6 seconds. He wants to accomplish this goal below the 13 minute barrier.
2024 In late 2024, Raess left U.S.-based coach Dathan Ritzenhein to join On Athletics Club Europe.
Achievements Information from his World Athletics profile unless otherwise noted.
International competitions 2011European Youth Olympic FestivalTrabzon, Turkey13th3000 m8:47.562012European Cross Country ChampionshipsSzentendre, Hungary69thU20 Race20:022015European Cross Country ChampionshipsHyères, France33rdU23 Race24:252016European Cross Country ChampionshipsChia, Italy17thU23 Race23:372017UniversiadeTaipei, Taiwan7th1500 m 3:45.518th5000 m 14:03.10European Cross Country ChampionshipsŠamorín, Slovakia29thSenior Race31:002018European ChampionshipsBerlin, Germany21st5000 m14:01.142019UniversiadeNaples, Italy1st5000 m 14:03.10European Team Championships Super LeagueBydogoszcz, Poland6th3000 m8:04.93European Cross Country ChampionshipsLisbon, Portugal9thSenior Race30:532021Olympic GamesTokyo, Japan25th (h)5000 m13:43.52European Cross Country ChampionshipsDublin, Ireland17thSenior Race31:162022World Indoor ChampionshipsBelgrade, Serbia11th3000 m7:47.28European ChampionshipsMunich, Germany15th5000 m13:36.182023World ChampionshipsBudapest, Hungary22nd (h)5000 m13:37.842024European ChampionshipsRome, Italy16th5000 m13:31.4314th10,000 m28:17.79Olympic GamesParis, France12th (h)5000 m13:55.042025European Running ChampionshipsLeuven, Belgium –10 kmDNF2026European ChampionshipsBirmingham, United Kingdom8th10,000 m28:22.41
National championships 2010Swiss U18 ChampionshipsLangenthal2nd1500 m4:07.632011Swiss U18 ChampionshipsFrauenfeld4th3000 m9:04.332012Swiss Junior ChampionshipsBasel6th1500 m9:04.334th5000 m15:28.482014Swiss U23 ChampionshipsGeneva4th1500 m4:00.872015Swiss ChampionshipsZug4th1500 m3:52.38Swiss U23 ChampionshipsBasel1st1500 m4:04.552016Swiss ChampionshipsGeneva2nd1500 m3:58.08Swiss U23 ChampionshipsLangenthal1st1500 m3:53.052017Swiss ChampionshipsZürich4th1500 m3:53.471st5000 m14:22.882018Swiss ChampionshipsZofingen1st5000 m14:20.122019Swiss ChampionshipsBasel1st5000 m14:19.882020Swiss ChampionshipsBasel1st5000 m14:02.092021Swiss ChampionshipsLangenthal1st5000 m14:01.622023Swiss ChampionshipsBellinzona1st5000 m13:44.00
See also List of Swiss records in athletics Switzerland at the Olympics
References
External links
Official website