Lukas Hämmerli and Victoria Kälin are no ordinary dance duo. As partners, they are set to represent Switzerland at the Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025—the world’s largest sports and humanitarian event of 2025.
This dynamic pair shares a deep passion for dancing, which has brought them together and set them on a path of mutual support, rhythm, and joy. They met at ‘Stiftung Bühl’ school in the Swiss municipality of Wädenswil when they were 15 years old, and their friendship has since transformed into a flourishing partnership on the dance floor.
Lukas’ and Victoria’s stories are part of the ‘Celebrate the Exceptional’ campaign, supported by Toyota Motor Europe and UPS, a visual and narrative project designed to spotlight eight exceptional Special Olympics winter athletes representing their countries at the World Winter Games Turin 2025.
A Lifelong Passion
For Lukas, 23, dancing has been a lifelong passion. “I started dancing at the age of three,” he recalled, crediting his parents as his first teachers. Working on a farm, Lukas found dancing to be the perfect counterbalance to his physically demanding job. His favourite style is disco fox, a dance he learned early in life and one he frequently enjoys with Victoria, 23, at local discos.
Victoria’s entry into DancSport came through Lukas, who invited her to a disco party. “I love music, and so I started dancing with him,” she said. Their shared love for music has flourished ever since. While Lukas gravitates toward disco fox, Victoria prefers the cha-cha-cha, drawn to the clarity of its rhythm.
Together, they train weekly, honing their routines under the guidance of coaches and supplementing their practice with individual fitness regimens. Lukas also adds jogging, weightlifting, and push-ups to his physical preparation. “Mentally, I don’t need much,” he said. “I love dancing so much—it’s easy to stay focused.”
DanceSport premieres at World Winter Games
DanceSport is a new addition to the Special Olympics World Winter Games, and Lukas and Victoria are proud to be among its pioneers. “It’s very cool,” Lukas added. “I’m proud to represent Special Olympics and Switzerland.” Victoria echoes his sentiments.
DanceSport takes its place among eight sport disciplines which 1,500 athletes representing more than 100 countries will compete in at the World Winter Games.
Beyond their competitive aspirations, both dancers aim to inspire. Lukas recently taught a cha-cha-cha crash course at Sekundarschule Hausen am Albis. Despite a minor ankle injury before the first lesson, Lukas powered through, sharing his enthusiasm with students. “One pupil acted a bit silly at first,” he recalled. “But later came to me and asked, ‘Lukas, can you show me this step again? I want to learn it properly.’ Isn’t that cool?”
Victoria shares a similar desire to inspire others through their performances. “I want to show people how beautiful this sport is and keep my joy for it,” she said. Lukas added, “I want to marvel the audience and touch them with our dance.”
Celebrating the Beauty of Movement Together
As they prepare to take the stage in Turin, Lukas and Victoria are ready to showcase their talents, their bond, and their love for dance. They hope their performance will not only highlight their skills but also demonstrate the courage, dedication, and joy that DanceSport brings to their lives. For them, it’s not just about winning—it’s about inspiring others and celebrating the beauty of movement together.
The DanceSport competition will take place between 9 and 15 March at the Palazzo delle Feste in Bardonecchia, Italy.
The Special Olympics World Winter Games Turin 2025 will be held in Italy from 8 – 15 March, with over 1,500 athletes from more than 100 countries competing across eight sports: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, DanceSport, figure skating, floorball, short track speed skating, snowboard, snowshoeing.
