Swiss national team coach Patrick Fischer has acknowledged using a falsified COVID-19 vaccination certificate to enter China during the 2022 Winter Olympics, calling the decision a “serious mistake”.
In a statement, Fischer said he travelled to Beijing with the men’s team using false documentation at a time when strict pandemic rules were in place.
“I’m very sorry if I’ve disappointed people with this situation,” Fischer said. “I was in an extraordinary personal crisis because I didn’t want to be vaccinated. At the same time I certainly didn’t want to let my team down at the Olympic Games.”
The admission followed reporting by Swiss public broadcaster SRF, which said Fischer had been confronted with evidence that he purchased the certificate via social media. According to the report, he was fined nearly 39,000 Swiss francs (about $50,000) in 2023 for document forgery.
Fischer remains head coach of the Swiss team, although he was already set to step down after the upcoming World Championship, which Switzerland will host next month. The Swiss Ice Hockey Federation has said it considers the case closed.
The episode dates back to the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where China enforced some of the strictest COVID-19 entry rules globally. Athletes were required either to be vaccinated or undergo a three-week quarantine. Switzerland’s snowboarder Patrizia Kummer, for example, opted for the quarantine route.
Fischer instead chose a shortcut — one that has now caught up with him publicly.
Despite the controversy, his sporting record remains significant. Since taking charge in 2015, he has led Switzerland to three Olympic appearances and three silver medals at the World Championship, including a quarterfinal finish in Beijing.
There has been no immediate comment from the International Olympic Committee.
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