Butcher crowned Schwingen King
A 20-year-old apprentice butcher from a small village in the Bernese Oberland has become the Schwinger King for 2010.
Kilian Wenger won the Schwingen alpine wrestling competition at the Federal Wrestling and Alpine Games Festival on Sunday in Frauenfeld.
Sports journalist Thomas Renggli described him as 1.90m tall and 100kg, “only muscles, not a gram of fat”. Wenger had a 1.75 point lead above his nearest opponent.
Wrestling is the main attraction of the festival, and had 281 competitors this year.
Winners enjoy a hero-like status. The main prize is traditionally a young bull, but competitors are also awarded useful items such as household appliances.
At Frauenfeld, the total value of the prizes is around SFr750,000 ($716,000).
Other events include stone throwing and the Hornusser team event.
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