Armon Orlik crowned wrestling king in Mollis: an unprecedented scenario in the history of the Federal Festival

The 2025 Swiss Wrestling Festival and Alpine Games will be remembered for a long time. In Mollis (GL), Grisons' Armon Orlik was crowned the new wrestling king after an absolutely incredible performance. Taking advantage of a special set of rules, he succeeds Joel Wicki, the 2022 wrestling king.

Max the other star of the party

A film-worthy ending

The final of this 47th edition pitted Samuel Giger (St. Gallen) against Werner Schlegel (Thurgau). Unable to separate after 15 minutes, the two wrestlers offered Armon Orlik a unique opportunity. Having remained behind during the passing, he was ultimately carried in triumph by the two finalists, thus becoming king of wrestling without having contested the final bout.

This unprecedented scenario illustrates all the unpredictability and drama of Swiss wrestling, a sport combining tradition, strength and strategy.

Joel Wicki's Contrasting Journey

Lucerne's Joel Wicki, crowned champion in 2022, ended his weekend with a mixed record. Undefeated, but unable to force a decision on several occasions, he left Mollis with four wins and four draws, far from the expectations placed on him.

Benjamin Gapany, the only Swiss Romande crowned

On the French-speaking side, hopes were high. But in the end, only one wrestler took home a federal crown: Benjamin Gapany from Fribourg. Thanks to a solid performance against Marc Lustenberger from Lucerne, he earned a total of 75 points, securing the second federal crown of his career.

The disillusionment of French-speaking Switzerland

Romain Collaud: After a blistering start (four wins and two draws), he fell apart at the end of the competition with two defeats, finishing with 74.25 points. Lario Kramer: Despite a solid Sunday, his hesitant start cost him dearly. A final draw against Basel's Adrian Odermatt prevented him from taking the crown, for a total identical to Collaud (74.25 points).

A meeting rooted in Swiss tradition

The Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Games Festival is more than just a competition: it's a national event that attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators and showcases ancestral Alpine disciplines. Armon Orlik's victory in Mollis is part of this rich history and continues to strengthen the popularity of Swiss wrestling, the national sport par excellence.