Olympic hero Franjo von Allmen brings joy to Boltigen with a triumphant homecoming
Boltigen rolled out a hero's welcome for Franjo von Allmen after his Olympic triumph. The Swiss athlete returned to his hometown in the Canton of Bern, where cultural festivals filled the Reidenbach school complex. Fans had been preparing for days, lining roads with posters and even organising a special train from Spitz.
The festival tent was already packed an hour before the 8 p.m. start. Host Rainer Maria Salzgeber kept the energy high as guests raised toasts and joked about the mysterious 'Franjo Shot'. When asked about its secret, von Allmen laughed and claimed it was 'mostly slope dye'.
The crowd erupted as von Allmen entered to the party anthemWackelkontakt, greeting everyone with a cheerful Sälü zäme! He shared light-hearted stories from the Olympics, including the moment the Swiss anthem played on the podium. There was also a mishap—one of his medals broke when his grandmother tried it on, forcing a quick repair before the celebration.
Throughout the night, the atmosphere stayed lively. Locals cheered, danced, and toasted their hometown star, making it clear how much his success meant to the community.
The event wrapped up with Boltigen's pride in von Allmen on full display. His Olympic journey had brought the small town together, from decorated streets to a packed festival tent. The celebrations around the world left no doubt about the strong bond between the athlete and his community.
