Wrestling king Kilian Wenger is retiring with immediate effect. The 34-year-old from Bern made the announcement at a press conference on Friday.
The Oberländer, wrestling king of 2010 in Frauenfeld, contested his last festival on the Brünig on Sunday.
Wenger cited persistent acute back problems as the reason for his decision. With 110 crowns, he is one of the most successful wrestlers ever. Only 13 athletes have collected more.
Wenger celebrated by far his greatest success in Frauenfeld in 2010, when he was crowned wrestling king at the Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival with eight victories in eight rounds, practically out of nowhere. On his way to the throne, the then 20-year-old put three-time king Jörg Abderhalden, Bruno Gisler and, in the final round, Martin Grab on his back.
The five-time Swiss champion won a total of 23 wreath festivals, the last one three years ago on the Brünig. Since then, Wenger's career has stagnated and he has been unable to build on his successes. This season he has only won two crowns. Most recently, he missed out on the oak leaves on the Brünig.
