Switzerland sending biggest winter team to Sochi

Switzerland sending biggest winter team to Sochi

Published Jan. 28, 2014 6:59 a.m. ET

GENEVA (AP) Switzerland is taking its biggest ever team to a Winter Olympics, sending 163 athletes to Sochi - including all five of its gold medalists from 2010.

The Swiss Olympic committee says ski jumper Simon Ammann will be the national flag bearer at the Feb. 7 opening ceremony.

Ammann is a four-time Olympic champion who will compete at his fifth Winter Games.

The other defending champions are cross-country skier Dario Cologna, Alpine skiers Didier Defago and Carlo Janka, and skicross racer Mike Schmid.

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The team includes 61 previous Olympians.

Switzerland sent 146 athletes to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, winning a total of six gold and three bronze medals.

Swiss team leader Gian Gilli says in a statement: ''For me, the Swiss delegation has the potential to win 10 medals.''

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