He is also a favorite in national gymnastics: Unspunnen winner Giger is planning his next victory

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Swinging is a tradition. National gymnastics, which only exists in Switzerland and whose origins date back as much as 500 years, has even more tradition. The all-round with disciplines from gymnastics and freestyle wrestling and swinging in sawdust is the focus this weekend in Wigoltingen in Thurgau.

On the Federal National Gymnastics Day, which takes place only once every six years, the new ‘king’ is sought. Six years ago, Urner Andi Imhof (38) triumphed in the final against Marcel Bieri (28). Imhof has since resigned. With three successes, the legendary Arnold Ehrensberger (69) from Winterthur is the record winner of the national gymnastics day.

Twelve years ago junior winner

Now it will be Samuel Giger (25) who must be beaten. After his victory at the Unspunnen, Giger has had turbulent days with many media appointments. “I no longer follow the national gymnastics training as I used to,” says Giger about the versatility that a national gymnast needs. Twelve years ago he won the national junior gymnastics competition with the same number of points as his cousin Daniel Schild. Six years ago, he was unable to participate in the active squad due to an injury.

Now he is planning a new “joke” on his doorstep after the coup in Interlaken. In the morning program he decided on the disciplines stone lifting, stone throwing, floor exercises and the 100 meter sprint. How fast will the model athlete with a fighting weight of 120 kilograms get over 100 meters? «For Mujinga Kambundji (whose best time is 10.89 s, d. Red) it’s definitely not enough. But if you want to be in the front, it should be between 12.5 and 13 seconds,” laughs Giger.

Giger brings shine to national gymnastics

The fact that Unspunnen winner Giger is now also in Wigoltingen after the turbulent days, has to do with his passion for national gymnastics. On the other hand, he knows the people in the organization and has followed his four-year training as a carpenter in Wigoltingen. Out of affinity for his region, Giger will bring shine to the event, which otherwise sails under the media radar and leads a fairly quiet existence. Speaking of glamour, in the sixties and seventies a certain Hausi Leutenegger (83) was one of the best national gymnasts in the country.

Giger will face stiff competition in Thurgau. This is primarily Jeremy Vollenweider (25) from Schaffhausen, who has shaped most competitions this season. Vollenweider should have advantages in athletics and wrestling, in wrestling he would barely be able to handle Giger in his current form. “If Sämi starts, then he is the top favorite,” says Vollenweider. Others are also ambitious, such as Werner Suppiger, the twins Gustav and Valentin Steffen, Roman Zurfluh and Martin Roth from Appenzell, also a Swiss wrestler.

Carefree to the crown in national gymnastics?

After the victory in Interlaken, Giger regained his lightheartedness and ease. The victory at the Unspunnen is a liberation for arguably the best wrestler in the country. He will now easily be able to take the crown in national gymnastics. After that it’s over for this year. “Then the holidays are finally announced,” says Giger.

Source : Blick