By Paul Osborne

René Kammerer has been presented with the Swiss Olympic Lifetime Coach Award ©Getty ImagesThe head coach of Switzerland's national women's ice hockey team, René Kammerer, has been presented with the Swiss Olympic Lifetime Coach Award for his contribution to the team over the past decade.

Kammerer took the helm of the Swiss national team in 2007 following a stint as assistant coach dating back to the 2003-2004 season.

Under his tutelage the team has moved from ninth to third in the world rankings.

The 44-year-old has also led the team to a bronze medal at the 2012 World Championships in the United States and Olympic bronze at Sochi 2014.

"René Kammerer has significantly influenced the Swiss Women's Hockey over the past ten years," says Ralph Stöckli, head of performance sport at Swiss Olympic, the National Olympic Committee of Switzerland as well as umbrella organisation of Swiss sports associations representing the Olympic and non-Olympic sports.

"With great dedication, a lot of passion and meticulous work, he has the Swiss women - often under difficult conditions - out at the top.

"The two bronze medals at the 2012 World Championships and the Olympic Games in Sochi 2014 are shiny symbols of his successful work."

René Kammerer led the Swiss national women's ice hockey team to bronze at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi ©Getty ImagesRené Kammerer led the Swiss national women's ice hockey team to bronze at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi ©Getty Images



Swiss Orienteering coach Patrik Thoma was presented with the award for youth individual sports, while beach volleyball coach Kurt Brunner won the award for youth team sports.

Björn Bruhin, head coach of the Swiss Paralympic skiing team, won the award for disabled sports.

The jury voting on the Swiss Olympic Coach of the Year Awards consisted of Adrian Bürgi, head coach of education at the Swiss Federal Institute of Sports in Magglingen, Ralph Stöckli, head of performance at Sport Swiss Olympic, Veronika Roos, chief executive of Swiss Paralympics and Peter Regli, President of Swiss coach, the professional association manager performance and elite sport Switzerland.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]