A cruel twist of fate

Yet the road to EuroSkills in Budapest was long for Daniel, and far from straightforward. “I was preparing to become a professional skier”, he explains. So how did he end up as an electrician? “I was looking for an apprenticeship and was offered a trial day in the company I’m currently working for. That’s when I realised that this trade is something I really enjoy. I didn’t hesitate and started my training as an electrician right away.” After completing his apprenticeship, Daniel continued to work for Ammann Elektro AG – and he feels completely at home there. “My boss supported me from day one. I was often allowed to take a few days off for my ski training and to pursue my skiing career”, he says. But then, when Daniel was 17, fate dealt him a heavy blow: he was diagnosed with leukaemia. The next two years were really tough: “I had to undergo chemotherapy for two years and put my apprenticeship training on hold for a year.” This also put an abrupt end to his skiing career. But Daniel did not give up and gradually got his life back – both personally and professionally. “Step-by-step, I resumed work. I started with two hours, then increased to half days and eventually returned to full-time work.” In the fourth and final year of his apprenticeship the course was set for Daniel’s incredible success at EuroSkills in Budapest.

The boss as a driving force

“My boss asked me if I wanted to enter the regional championships. Cool idea, I thought, and just tried it.” This marked the start of an intensive practice and training period for Daniel. Ranked third in the Swiss national vocational championships, he finally obtained his ticket for Budapest. “That’s when I started training together with the WorldSkills candidates, but the really tough part started about two months before I went to Budapest.” The impressive success achieved by Daniel in Budapest shows that the time invested paid off. Even today, he can hardly believe it: “Before the awards ceremony I was extremely nervous, but that all disappeared when I heard my name.” I clearly remember the three feelings that overwhelmed me at this moment: happiness, pride and, above all, gratitude towards everybody who supported me along the way. That I even became ‘Best of Europe’ is still totally unbelievable for me and has completely blown me away.”
After Budapest, Daniel spent a few very busy weeks filled with media appointments, radio interviews and invitations. He even visited Vienna recently to receive an award at the European Vocational Skills Week event. So, what next? “Now I really need a few days off, as the past few weeks have been quite exhausting”, he adds with a laugh.