Dr. Knechtle works as scientific assistant at the Institute of General Practice and for Health Services Research at University of Zurich, Switzerland. In 1991, he finished his medical study at the University of Zurich and completed then his education as primary care physician. Since 2004, he works as primary care physician at the Gesundheitszentrum St. Gallen. Since his youth, Dr. Knechtle trains in swimming, cycling and running. He completed many races in swimming, cycling, running and triathlon. Among his best achievements, he won in 2013 a Deca Iron ultra-triathlon, covering the total distance of 38km swimming, 1800km cycling and 422km running.

Dr. Knechtle is interested in performance analysis in endurance and ultra-endurance athletes, sex difference in athletic performance and nutrition, fluid metabolism and energy turnover during ultra-endurance performance.