Going forth: Enrico Pfister (centre) curling a stone as his team looks on during a game against Kazakhstan at the 2025 Asian Winter Games in Harbin, China. — AFP
A BANKER, a construction worker, an electrician and an entrepreneur from snowy Switzerland have an unlikely shot at making Winter Olympics curling history – for the tropical Philippines.
Jamaica’s bobsleigh team were immortalised in the movie Cool Runnings after taking part in the 1988 Winter Olympics.
And the “Curling Pilipinas” could be the next candidates for the Hollywood treatment, should they line up at Milan-Cortina in 2026.
The Swiss-Filipino men’s quartet are this week gaining invaluable experience at the Asian Winter Games in China, their biggest stage yet.
Just two years after the launch of the country’s curling federation, the men’s team – who were all born in Switzerland to Filipino mothers – have already secured a place at 2026 Olympic pre-qualifiers later this year.
Unlike their full-time competitors from Asian winter sports powerhouses South Korea, Japan and China, the Philippines team members still work their day jobs.
“We are fully committed, but the money is always tight,” said lead Alan Frei. “But it’s for the plot, it’s for the story, right?”
Frei has spent around €30,000 (RM138,000) on the team, who were largely self-funded before the Asian Winter Games, according to Philippines curling federation president Benjo Delarmente, who is also the squad’s reserve player.
The Philippines are not intimidated going up against the best because of the team’s top-tier chemistry, said Frei – who describes himself as an “e-commerce entrepreneur” whose online ventures have in the past included a sex toy store.
They also have experience in their ranks.
The other three members – electrician Enrico Pfister, his brother and construction worker Marc Pfister and banker Christian Haller – have previously competed for Switzerland in world championships.
A few years ago the trio decided to form a Philippines team, but needed a fourth member.
They contacted rookie curler Frei, 42, who had made it his life goal to become an Olympian and had only taken up the sport after realising he had “zero talent” for skiing.
By October 2023 they were competing and the rest could be history. — AFP
