The French Republic, is a unitary sovereign state comprising territory in western Europe and several overseas regions and territories.  France is one of only three countries to have both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines. France has a population of 66.6 million. Paris is the capital and the nation's largest city and the main cultural and commercial center.

France remains a great power with significant cultural, economic, military, and political influence in Europe and around the world. It is a developed country with the world's fifth-largest economy.

France is a highly urbanized country, with its largest cities in 2011 being Paris (12,292,900 inh.), Lyon (2,182,482), Marseille (1,721,031), Toulouse (1,250,251), Lille (1,159,547), Bordeaux (1,140,668), Nice (1,003,947), Nantes (884,275), and Strasbourg (763,739).

Tourism in France

France attracted 84.7 million foreign tourists in 2013, making it the most popular tourist destination in the world. It is third in income from tourism due to briefer visits. 20% more tourists spent less than half as much as they did in the United States.

France has 37 sites inscribed in UNESCO's World Heritage List and features cities of high cultural interest, beaches and seaside resorts, ski resorts, and rural regions that many enjoy for their beauty and tranquillity.

Sports in France

Popular sports played in France include football, judo, tennis and rugby union. France has hosted events such as the 1938 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, and the 2007 Rugby World Cup.. The Stade de France in Saint-Denis is France's largest stadium and was the venue for the 1998 FIFA World Cup and 2007 Rugby World Cup finals. France hosts the annual Tour de France, the most famous road bicycle race in the world^. France is famous for its 24 Hours of Le Mans sports car endurance race. Several major tennis tournaments take place in France, including the Paris Masters and the French Open. France has a close association with the Modern Olympic Games; it was a French aristocrat, Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who suggested the Games' revival, at the end of the 19th century.

Wrestling in France

 
In France Wrestling is called: Lutte. The national Federation is FFL (Federacion Francaise de Lutte), and leads Olympic Wrestling,  Sambo, Grappling and traditional Gouren. The federation has 22 provincial associations with 410 clubs (approximately 330 clubs in Olympic Wrestling). 13 Wrestling clubs can be found on the islands of la Reunion and Guadelope.

 
Two Brothers, two olympic medals 2008 in Bejing: Christophe and Steve Guenot.

International Situation

France is a generally successful sporting nation due to its high level of development and large population. The international wrestling scene is dominated  mostly by Eastern European and Asian countries. In Western Europe it is mainly Germany and France, where it is sometimes possible to achieve top international results. France was one of the first nations in which the ring sport for women was possible. When, in the late eighties the first World Championships were conducted, they were dominated by Scandinavians and French women. Through the Olympic status of female wrestling, but then also encouraged other nations their women teams, and France lost more and more its dominant position.

In the 15 Olympics after the 2nd world was succeeded the French wrestlers total of 10 medals in wrestling to win. Charles Kouyos (1948 Bronce), Rene Schier Meyer (1960 Bronce), Daniel Robin (1968 two silver medals, Greco and Freestyle), Ghani Yalouz (1996 silver), Anna Gomis (2004 Bronce), Lise Goliot-Legrand (2004 Bronce) Christophe Guenot (2008 Bronce) and Steve Guenot (2008 gold and 2012 bronce).

Four male wrestlers reached a world title: Daniel Robin (1967), Patrice Mourier (1987) Ivon Riemer (1995) and Mélonin Noumonvi (2014). 2014 succeeded Zelimkhan Khadijev  to win the Junior World Champion title. In female wrestling, the French women won 22 world titles. The most successful athletes have been Anna Gomis with 4 gold medals (1993, 1996, 1997 and 1999) and Lise Goliot-Legrand with 2 gold medals (1995 and 1997). The last female World Cup so far succeeded Gold Audrey Prieto in the year of 2007.

 
Anna Gomis (4 World titles)                                                                                                          and Melonin Noumonvi (World Champion 2014)

National Situation

Wrestling is preferably carried out in France by socially weaker sections of society. This is the reason why immigrants from the former Soviet Union and North Africa are very well represented in the wrestling clubs.

National Coaches:

Alain Berger (Freestyle), Patrice Mourier (Greco) und Bennoit Schuller (Female)

FFL Ranking of the best Clubs:

1. Besancon
2. Bagnolet
3. Sarreguemines
4. Schiltigheim
5. Clermond Ferrand
6. Nice LC
7. Lyon St. Priest
8. Aulnay CMASA
9. Tourcoing LC
10. E.L.C.O.

 
In the Year 2009 the new Trainingscenter in Paris opened the doors.

Wrestling, a team sport  in France

Wrestling is also team sport in France, where two teams compete against each other. Each team represents a starter per weight class. Half of the battles are fought in freestyle as well as in the Greco-Roman style. After the break, then the styles are exchanged. Thus fourteen meetings in seven weight classes will be held by team fight. For the total result for every single point victory for the team will be credited. The highest league in France is the Division 1. Here come the eight best teams in the country and determine the French team champion.

         Team Schiltigheim

 Division 1 -2015:
  1e  BESANCON                                         
  2e  SARREGUEMINES
  3e  SOTTEVILLE LES ROUEN
  4e  SAINT-YRIEIX LA PERCHE
  5e  LYON SAINT-PRIEST
  5e  SCHILTIGHEIM
  7e  MAIZIERES LES METZ
  7e  BELLEU

        Division 2 -2015
  1e  CLERMONT-FERRAND ASM
  2e  SOTTEVILLE LES ROUEN
  3e  PARIS METRO
  4e  AULNAY SOUS BOIS CMASA
  5e  CHAMALIERES
  5e  ROUEN
  7e  MAIZIERES LES METZ

  Division 3 -2015
  1e  BAGNOLET
  2e  CHENOVE
  3e  NIMES
  4e  STIRING WENDEL
  5e  BESANCON
  5e  LYON SAINT-PRIEST
  7e  CHAMPFORGEUIL
  8e  BELLEU   

   Division female -2015                              

Federation

Fédération Française de Lutte
2, rue Louis PERGAUD
94706 MAISONS ALFORT
Tél : 01 41 79 59 10
Fax : 01 43 68 40 53

Präsident FFL

BERTHOLOM Alain
Président
01 41 79 59 10
a.bertholom@fflutte.org

LAFON Michel
Directeur Technique National
m.lafon@fflutte.org

Homepage Frech Wrestling Feration

http://www.fflutte.com/

Wrestling Clubs in France

http://fflutte.com/clubSearch

02  /  2016