As a student, Orlik lived in Kandersteg and joined the Frutigen Swiss wrestling club. After joining the ranks of the active wrestlers, he made great, and sometimes small, strides. Sometimes he took a step back. A cruciate ligament tear in 2011 put him out of action for a spell. Progress was hard to come by, as were the winners’ laurel wreaths. With his selection and participation in the 2016 Federal Swiss Wrestling and Alpine Festival (ESAF) in Estavayer, Curdin reached another milestone. Although he fell short of the coveted laurel wreath with a loss in the eighth round, the day rekindled his passion for the sport. He trained, optimised, perfected. Just a year later, he took another step forwards when he qualified for the final at Unspunnen. At the 2019 ESAF in Zug, he battled into ninth place and won his first federal wreath. Orlik’s goal for the 2021 season is the 17th Kilchberger Schwinget tournament starting on 25 September 2021. All his preparation is geared to that event. He trains in Frutigen with the Oberland wrestlers, at the Bernese training camp and privately. On that long-awaited autumn day, he wants to be in top form, give his all in every round and put on the best possible show. And in the evening, he wants to go home in good health and great spirits.

The sport of Schwingen requires experience, tactics, endurance, strength, timing and luck. But the battle is won in the mind above all else. The three most important strengths that a Schwinger must have are confidence, confidence and confidence. So Curdin doesn’t focus only on his technique and athletic conditioning, but also works doggedly on his mental constitution. While Curdin is amply equipped with size and muscle mass, he by no means has an oversized ego. ‘I wrestle best when everything is going smoothly.’ He learns from mistakes and thereby builds his experience. More than anything, he grapples with himself and his limitations. And in so doing, he overcomes them.

‘My life doesn’t revolve exclusively around Schwingen. I have other interests as well’, says Curdin of his life beyond the sawdust. He studied agronomy at Bern University of Applied Sciences’ School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences and now works as an agronomist at IP-Suisse, the Swiss Association of Integrated Producing Farmers. Sustainability is important to him. He believes in the success of continuous change rather than stasis or forceful manipulations. Those who imagine him spending his free time with dumbbells and protein drinks are well off track. Curdin’s openness is as multifarious as the man himself. He plays piano and the organ, likes to swim in the Aare river, heads to the woods to train or meditate, breathes deeply, works on his website, talks with family and friends, contemplates all and sundry, and keeps working on himself and his ideas.