Senegalese and Swiss wrestlers have showcased their traditional wrestling styles in a cultural exchange in Dakar, highlighting the sporting heritage of both countries during the 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
The event brought together three wrestlers from each country on Sunday in Parcelles Assainies, a suburb of Dakar. It featured Senegalese traditional wrestling, known as laamb, and Switzerland’s centuries-old style, Schwingen.
The Swiss wrestlers exchanged their usual sackcloth shorts for Senegalese wrestling attire, while participating in traditional rituals that included protective charms, a water ceremony, drumming and songs. Senegalese wrestling star Emile Francois Gomis, popularly known as Franc, helped introduce the visitors to the local customs.
The competition featured matches in both styles. Senegalese wrestlers won the laamb bouts, while their Swiss counterparts secured victories when the competition switched to Schwingen.
Swiss wrestler Matthieu Burger described the encounter as a valuable experience, praising the spirit of mutual respect between the competitors. Franc said the event was organised to showcase Senegalese culture and the country’s pride in wrestling.
Parcelles Assainies Mayor Aboubacar Djamil Sane described the exchange as a cultural and sporting bridge between the two countries.
The event was held alongside the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, which opened in Senegal on October 31, marking the first time an Olympic event has taken place on African soil.
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