Weinplatz, a square in the middle of Zurich’s old town, is a place where folk come to relax. The tower of St Peter’s Church looms above the people enjoying their lunch break on the benches. The pink colour of the historic Storchen building radiates a feeling of warmth. Two leafy trees add just the right touch of nature to the square. The highlight of my favourite place, however, is the sound of the River Limmat, which flows right past the square.

It reminds me of a freezing cold Saturday afternoon in November. My team and I moored at the jetty in front of the Storchen, right after we had done the sprint of the Uni/Poly eight race for the University of Zurich. It had been raining all day. Wet and frozen through, we got out of our rowing boat and walked in our socks to Weinplatz, where the award ceremony was being held. Despite the weather, it was an unforgettable experience to row through the old town of Zurich and cope with the current of the Limmat. The bridges were teeming with spectators, who were now all walking towards Weinplatz.

That’s why Weinplatz is not only a place for me to come and relax, but also a finishing point that united me with my friends, family and teammates.