Vanessa Knecht

Vanessa Knecht hit her first shots in her parents' garden at the age of five, and was already Swiss junior champion at the age of twelve. In 2023, the young athlete took part in the Ladies European Tour and has now devoted herself entirely to the sport.

After graduating from high school, the Zurich native, who was born in 1997, received a scholarship to Wake Forest University in North Carolina, USA, where she majored in International Politics and Affairs while also playing on the golf team. Back in Switzerland, the young professional athlete now has ambitious goals for the future, such as competing in the Olympic Games and building a successful career on the Ladies European Tour.

Vanessa has been an ambassador for Right To Play since 2024, encouraging children and young people in our program countries to pursue their goals, live for their dreams and fight for their future.

Sport has always been a big part of my life. I was able to experience incredible things through golf, and these experiences have shaped me into the person I am today. I wouldn't have been able to experience this without the support of my parents, because they showed me that you can realize your childhood dream. A dream then, my profession today. A dream that would not have come true without support, passion and discipline. These are the basic building blocks that Right to Play wants to pass on to the children in its programs through play. For this reason, it is a wonderful symbiosis for me and an opportunity to pass on these ideals.