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World University Orienteering Championship

Being a part time student has many advantages: you don’t have to get up early every morning; you can fit your training quite easy in your daily schedule and – the best thing – you can be selected for the World University Orienteering Championship. After a tough winter and spring season I was really happy that I finally could show a better performance at the test races and got selected for all the forest disciplines, which include middle, long and relay. 

The preparations went quite well and at the test races for the «real» world championship in Latvia served as a dress rehearsal for the WUOC in Finland, showing me exactly which points I should pay most attention to. My good performance in the long distance helped build up my self-confidence (that I had some troubles with in the last few months) and confirmed my feeling that this discipline is still my strength.

Back home from Latvia I switched my focus from the physical preparation to the technical and mental one and my anticipation, which was big anyway, grew day by day. How beautiful it will be running through Finnish marches, over ledges and be technically and physically challenged!



My high expectations were completely fulfilled! And not only the competitions were great but also everything related to it. The Olympic Centre in Kuortane was the perfect accommodation for us. Everyone from all the competing countries stayed at the same place and from our room we had a gorgeous view over the lake where we bathed every day. This was quite important to me because I don’t resist heat well.



After some days of holiday feeling I couldn’t wait until the start peep of my first competition, the middle distance. After an incredible hot warm-up, I was happy to finally be allowed to run in the forest. I managed to get into the race smoothly. Besides a mistake in the control circle and a bad route choice, I was satisfied with my technical performance. At the end of the course I really struggled with the heat and lost some important seconds at the last few controls. I ended up in a stable 10th place. The analysis showed that I was strong on the long legs, again something that increased my self-confidence for the long distance.

Finally, the morning of the long distance arrived. I had no problems to get into the right competition mood (although I almost got sick when I saw the Norwegians eating chips in the quarantine). Again, already at the first control I found the right flow. It was a tough race; you always had to push hard physically, stay concentrated and read the map properly. I am really satisfied with my performance until the «spongy» 14th control. Somehow a perfect race wasn’t meant to be and I lost a bit more than two minutes. When I saw at the finish that I was in great company in losing time at this control, I was a little less angry with myself and happy about the lead I took. 



And then with the waiting, the worst part began. It ended up with a great 4th place. There were too many comments like «I’m sure you will get a medal» that caused my hopes grow bigger and bigger and made the disappointment right after the decision even worse. Luckily, after a few minutes I managed not to be sad over the lost medal and instead to be really happy about my great result.

I got revenge the next day at the relay. I had the honour of running the first leg in the first team. Lisa Holer on the second one and Paula Gross on the last leg completed our team. Again, I managed to show a solid performance and was able to send Lisa out only 15 seconds behind the leading team. She did a great job and came back in the lead. Paula started well, although she made us tremble a bit in between but in the end secured us 3rd place. It was really great to win the bronze medal with these two strong girls!



I have had a great week in amazing forests, with challenging courses, beautiful weather, outstanding coaching and physios, an entertaining Swiss team and many enjoyable moments with people from other nations.


Pictures: Christoph Schilter and Janna Nousianinen

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