WOC News No 12 I still can improve my training volume

Regarding medals, Minna Kauppi had the better statis- tics, and perhaps we expected that from her. But managed to produce a very successful final leg run in the relay just the day after he won the long distance race, ...

... demonstrating his incredible strength and the depth of his po- tential. It was with that in mind that we put a couple of questions to this master of …

(cont. on page 2)

We really want to spread out live tracking WOC 2008 was a success as measu- red by the application of technolo- gy aimed at bringing orienteering closer to the public. In this respect TracTrac is one of the most impor- tant developments, moreover one which is tailor-developed for our sport. We put a few questions about this increasingly popular tracking system to one of its providers, for- mer top orienteer .

(cont. on page 4) For future organisers this is a challenge There are the organisers, there are the competitors and there are the spectators. And then there are a couple of especially important in- dividuals standing behind. One of these is the IOF Event Adviser, who is actually not only an Adviser but is very much involved with the or- ganisation too, spending a lot of A sort of symbolic sceptre hand-over - in time and effort on the event. For 2003, Thomas Bührer won the long distan- the 2008 WOC, Unni Strand Carlsen ce event at WOC in his home country. Now was appointed to this role. What he could be really happy with the same were her feelings, after the “batt- achievement by his training pupil. le”? (cont. on page. 6)

1 WOC2008, Legionářská 12, CZ-772 00 Olomouc - [email protected] - www.woc2008.cz I still can improve my

training volume I suppose that you wouldn’t be aware of (cont. from page 1) favourite plan, be- a couple more uphill metres, so was your cause of the tired legs. choice made simply by the fact, that you Hello Daniel, so first let’s return to your But I guess other teams too had needed to decide immediately? Moreo- WOC races. Sprint - I think there is not too the same problem - their best runners ver you then couldn’t change it, since you much to talk about, perfect race, and just were running the long. For my relay per- ran down to the lower road. the route choice to 15th decided it…. But formance it was definitely not the best to Certainly I would try to avoid the mistake you had secured a medal already from the run the long just the day before. But there at the 2nd control, I was too imprecise first race, which might give you a positive was almost no other choice for me and of when I entered the control area. I didn’t mental impulse... course, I’m really happy with the way it spend so much time thinking about the After the sprint I was really happy with my came out. long route to number 16. Maybe too little race, I almost did everything correct. But time, because I didn’t see the route Jamie there were these two seconds missing Did some of the terrain surprise you in and Matthias did. I just saw a good option to my first gold medal... However, for the comparison to what you expected and to going along this big road and tried to get rest of the week it was important to see I the areas where you trained here? there as fast as possible. was in very good shape. In the middle final I was really surprised how big the stony areas were. We did qui- Relay - did you already feel a little tired…? Middle – medal was very near, but first te a lot of training in relevant middle ter- How did you feel about the possibility that one of the controls in rocky terrain - 9th rain, but never met this. you would maybe would have to fight at - cost you some time. How did you eva- the finish with Dlabaja? I mean just be- luate this mistake then – was it possible Based on your results and performance, cause you had the long race in your legs, to avoid it, or perhaps also to keep more we can call you the strongest runner of otherwise all Tiomila spectators could concentrated ? this WOC… Would you reveal how the see, what sort of finishman you are… I wasn’t very happy after the middle, be- training year of the WOC’s strongest run- Yes, my legs were really heavy after the cause I lost the medal or even more at the ner looks like? Total km or hours volume, long. It was the first time in the WOC 9th control. Of course it was one of the what sort of training do you prefer, and week I felt really tired. But I guess it has to most difficult ones. But I think I wasn’t do you apply any unusual methods? be like this and I was mentally prepared concentrated enough at this moment. In the last 12 months [note - up to sum- for it. First, when I saw Djabaja I got a little Just the control before I caught up Olle mer 08] I trained about 520 hours in total. bit insecure and thought maybe I’m too Kärner, this broke my flow. But for sure Most of this was running, 150 hours ori- tired to do well today. Then I managed to it was my mistake - as an orienteer you enteering. I try to train high intensity all keep up my concentration, I wasn’t thin- should deal successfully with a situation year and I prefer to train twice a day than king about a possible finish. like this. to do a very long training session. Did you see the WOC schedule – relay just Long – no-one was absolutely perfect, Did your training year before WOC 08 dif- one day after long – as a disadvantage, or but you were the strongest of those, who fer in any way from the previous? I suppo- in contrary as an advantage, since you made just a couple of small mistakes (2nd se that you could consider succesful also felt strong enough anyway, which would c. in your case). Would you do anything in the previous training years – you still wai- make your team as strong as the others? a different way now? How about the long ted for an individual medal from a WOC I can see both sides. I had respect to run 15-16 leg – Jamie and Matthias were fas- race longer than sprint, but it was seen the relay just the day after long. Especial- ter with a little bit more hilly route choice. that you were approaching it with deter- ly running the last leg was not always my mination… More or less I trained like the years before. Until now I have managed to increase my training volume from year to year. And I think I still can improve it...

Do you prefer to train alone or in a team? I suppose that when you are at home, in Eschlikon, there is no other Swiss team runner who could join you? In fact I train often together with some other runners. David Schneider, a nati- onal team runner, lives very close to me and we train together 2-3 times a week.

2 WOC2008, Legionářská 12, CZ-772 00 Olomouc - [email protected] - www.woc2008.cz I think it was your first WOC long, althou- been a professional gh it was already your fifth WOC and you orienteer, so I havn’t been wor- had two medals from long at JWOC and king since then. Of course I have time for silver from long at EOC 2006. Was it your some hobbies, but most of them are con- own decision in the past that you didn’t nected to orienteering or running. Two particu- run long races, or was it determined also larly multi-talen- by the quality of other Swiss team mem- Did you became a professional orienteer bers and thus it was difficult to be selec- right after school, or did you for some ye- ted women ted for long? ars before need to compromise your time An Austrian woman who in 2007 won Yes, it was my first time running the long between work and orienteering ? an IOF gold medal at long distance, a distance at WOC. I was already thinking After finishing school I worked part-time. silver in sprint and a relay bronze me- about it for at least the last two years. For In the first year it was maybe 60% and in dal has qualified for the long distance sure I wasn’t on the same level then. One 2006 less then 40%. final at WOC 2008. other reason why I didn’t was the sche- No, the medals were not in foot orien- dule of the WOC weeks, it was always What are the financial opportunities for teering. This multi-talented Austrian, quite tough to run some other discipli- top orienteering runners in Switzerland ? Michaela Gigon, is a mountain-bike nes additionally to the long. Apart from sponsors, do you have some wizard and won the medals in the support from federal or cantonal funds or 2007 World MTB Orienteering Cham- You belong amongst the runners who perhaps the army budget ? pionships held at Nové Město na Mo- achieve very good results also in athletic My biggest supporter is the Olympic Fer- ravě here in the Czech Republic. running – do you have some ambitions deration in Switzerland, and then I have Another athlete with a string of medals or targets to break your current results or some personal sponsors. The army in from another discipline to her name, times? In early August you took part in Switzerland is also supporting us, but we also running in the long distance fi- the Swiss Champs in 5,000 m (and achi- just earn some money during the time we nal today, is Liisa Anttila from Finland, eved 2nd place…) and were just three are running military world champs and whose biggest successes in recent seconds behind your best time (14:44), during some military training camps. years have been in ski orienteering. although being after a very demanding Silver at middle distance and relay, July; moreover you wrote that it was qui- I believe that this gives you possibilities to and bronze in sprint are the most re- te a tactical race.. train as you want. How much time within cent impressive results from Liisa, won I never prepared for this athletic compe- one year, just roughly, do you spend out- at the 2007 World Ski Orienteering tition very seriously, I just like to push my side Switzerland for training? For exam- Championships in Russia. limits there and to run some competiti- ple training camps in warmer countries ons. But my heart is beating for oriente- during winter, training camps or compe- ering, I can’t imagine just to run athletic titions in Scandinavia with Kristiansand, competitions. preparations in terrain relevant for upco- ming champs,…. Do you remember what your time was This year I will spend 120 days abroad in on 3,000 or 5,000 m , when you were for total. The good point is that I’m very flexi- example at the age of 16 ? ble and I can profit from different inputs, When I was 17 I did 16:30 on 5,000m. like from the national team and Kristians- and OK, and I can organise some camps And what about some other running ac- myself and together with friends. tivities outside orienteering, for example uphill leg of Dolomitenmann…? How were you spending the rest of the I don’t know. I did just some small uphill summer? After the World Cup you ran running competition, but I have the im- the 5,000m race in early August and then pression it’s really tough compared to you had holidays without competitions – orienteering. You have to fight all the were you just continuing with your trai- way. But maybe it’s just because I much ning to be ready for the rest of the World prefer to orienteer. Cup season? For the last two weeks of August I’ve been Dou you have time for some other hob- in Norway to prepare for WOC 2010. After Just a week after WOC finished, Michae- bies? What about carpentry, which was Swiss Champs in Sprint and Long I tried la Gigon took part in the two-day Czech your subject at your school? to prepare myself as well as possible for event Merida Bike Adventure, a sort of Since the beginning of the World Cup final in Switzerland. bike orienteering race with free order of 2007 I have controls, and achieved second place in Questions by Petr Kadeřávek the mixed MD category.

3 WOC2008, Legionářská 12, CZ-772 00 Olomouc - [email protected] - www.woc2008.cz We really want to spread Can you briefly describe “how out live tracking it works”? From the runner in the forest, elec- (cont. from page 1) via your server in Denmark to screens tion and a and displays... royal wedding. In How and when did the idea of trac trac The runner carries an integrated GPS and total, I think we have done and tracking of runners in the forest ari- a normal mobile phone SIM-card. The GPS between 200-300 tracking events. se? receives signals from the satellites orbit- The premiere was the Copenhagen City ing the earth and uses these to position it- So it is already a well developed busi- Cup in 2004, a sprint orienteering series self. The position is sent through the GSM ness; how large is the company? And in Copenhagen made to attract more at- network (by GPRS), and then via the inter- what’s your next orienteering job? tention from media and non-orienteers. net back to our server in Denmark. From We are 3 founders and we use student We thought the GPS-technology had be- there the tracking is made available via helpers from time to time. No events come mature enough to make something the internet for anyone who would like to booked finally yet - but we are already cool of it for orienteering. It just started as watch. testing with some events next year. a hobby-project and worked quite well. And so you need to calibrate What is the accuracy? For sure it differs in the map exactly to real co- various conditions, so can it be defined ordinates? for example in ideal conditions of open How do you get exact co- flat area or for example clear forest in flat ordinates of the places so- terrain? mewhere in another country In optimal conditions the accuracy is +- - are these usually provided 1-2 metres. by the organisers or is it to- Both signals - GPS for positioning and day sufficient to get them GSM for data transmission - need to be in from some free map-server ? place for a position to be rendered. With Normally the maps can be cal- the quality of GPS-positioning nowadays ibrated using some free map it is usually the GSM connection that is service (e.g. Google Earth). critical for being able to make a successful In some areas the resolution live-tracking - especially in orienteering, of these services is not good which often takes place in areas with poor and the organisers or makers GSM-coverage. of the orienteering map will have more accurate data. What was your experience during Czech WOC? Were for example terrains so- How many times have you mewhat more challenging or did you used trac trac now? need to solve issues of signal strength We have done live tracking too? in 9 different sports apart LIVE-tracking at WOC in the Czech Repub- from orienteering, we have a lic was challenging for a number of rea- team-building concept called sons and it provided some of the most dif- GPS Adventure, a winter serv- ficult conditions that we have performed ice (called SkiTrac) informing live tracking in. live about the status of cross- The GPS signal was affected by the veg- Johan Fegar and Chris Terkelsen (behind), provided Trac country skiing tracks, and we etation (the Czech forests provided a very Trac at WOC 2008. have even tracked a general dense leaf cover that moreover was at its

WOC 2008 with balanced budget After all the pluses and minuses were counted together, the Organisers of WOC 2008 were happy to announce that the event en- ded with a balanced budget. Both income and expenditure were around 13.5 million CZK, which at the current exchange rate is about 520 thousand Euro. The key factor in fund-raising was cooperation with the “TK PLUS” marketing agency, which is engaged in the domain of sport in the country. The positive result was achieved in spite of the unexpected changes in the exchange rates of CZK vs. EUR, which caused losses of almost one million CZK (over 35 thousand Euro). One of the recommendations for future organisers is thus not to fix entry fees and payments for accommodation and catering as far as a year ahead, or alternatively to append a clause providing for a possible rise in charges by 5 % in the event of increases in prices or changes in exchange rates. Another re- commendation is to reconsider the necessity for high IOF levies... A more detailed appraisal of financial matters can be found in the Final Report which has just been published.

4 WOC2008, Legionářská 12, CZ-772 00 Olomouc - [email protected] - www.woc2008.cz densest due to the competitions being can happen with your mobile phone. The held in the peak of summer), the topog- marker then reappears when the connec- We experi- raphy (with deep valleys and steep slopes tion between the GSM module and the ence a growing making it more difficult for the tracking GSM net is re-established. Our internet interest for live tracking - unit to capture signals from a sufficient software shows the number of seconds both in orienteering and in other number of satellites to calculate an accu- since the position has been rendered sports. At the same time the tracking units rate position) and the geography (rocky and the internet viewer can therefore al- are getting better, smaller and hopefully areas reflecting and disturbing the signals ways see for how long the connection to cheaper, which should make it more ac- from the satellites). All in all, modern GPS a specific runner has been interrupted. cessible. We really want to spread out live technology is very reliable, but due to However, this feature was not possible to tracking and we are almost ready with a these circumstances we did experience incorporate in the LIVE TV production and new software platform that will let part- a higher number of inaccurate GPS posi- the viewers of the big screen and the TV ners or even organizers themselves set up tions at the WOC than you would at an av- were therefore left without this valuable their own event - they just need the track- erage orienteering event. information. We will look into how to in- ing units and a password to our admin- For the GSM coverage, TracTrac as pro- corporate this information into future TV istration web-page, then they can set up vider of live tracking has to rely on the productions. the tracking very easily and a lot cheaper. GSM net provided by the local telecom Dots of runners appearing in the wrong At the moment we are looking for part- provider. Also the GSM coverage was chal- place is due to disturbances to the signals ners in different countries that would like lenged by vegetation, topography and from the satellites causing the GPS unit to to hook up to our new platform to provide geography - especially the deep valleys calculate the position incorrectly. These tracking to orienteering and many other and steep slopes of the WOC competition disturbances can be due to the factors sports. terrains made it in reality impossible for mentioned before or even atmospheric And of course we also have many new fea- the telecom provider to secure full cov- disturbances. It is normally something that tures under way which we hope will make erage throughout the competition area, we see very little of, but unfortunately we live tracking even more exciting. although we had good co-operation from experienced some very visible examples the organisers and the telecom provider, of drifting (when the marker slowly drifts It sounds really interesting - when might O2. Therefore, you saw more fallouts of off in relation to the GPS’s true trajectory) the new software platform be available, data than at a competition with optimal in the most decisive final moments of the and can you outline how much cheaper GSM coverage e.g. Jukola in 2008. men’s relay. It was just very unfortunate it then might be? Especially the tracking of the long dis- that it happened at this exact moment. The new platform is actually ready. It is tance was marked by large areas where in the final testing phase. Prices have not we could get no live data due to absence How do you see the future for trac trac? Is been finally determined yet. of GSM signal. there some hope that technological de- velopment might make it cheaper, and Questions by Petr Kadeřávek During the relay, the transmission was thus it might be used more frequently? interrupted and the sign of the runner either stopped for a while and then appea- red on another place, or it showed the wrong way (for example trace of some run- ners between 24 and 26). Did such things happen to the usual extent or were there in some way more difficult con- ditions ? These two problems had dif- ferent causes. When transmission is inter- rupted it is simply because the GSM module has lost contact to the GSM net – just as

5 WOC2008, Legionářská 12, CZ-772 00 Olomouc - [email protected] - www.woc2008.cz For future organisers this cern medal posi- tions. is a challenge The jury handled one complaint regarding (cont. from p. 1) a missing punch on the last control in the bidder for Middle final. The complaint was rejected So, what are your basic impressions 2012 and Finland is by the Jury. about WOC 2008 now, one month later so far the only one for 2013. – when the experiences and memories Do you see it in the same way? Do What challenges with startlists did you might already be a little bit more sorted you see some solution…? need to resolve ? out and seen from some „distance“? You may be right, however in the future we There were some questions regarding al- A successful WOC related to sporting fair- have to accept that different nations have locations of athletes in start groups in each ness; different resources, both regarding man- heat in the Sprint Qualification. The startlist 7 out of 8 gold medals to different nations; power and finance to put into organising a was drawn according to the IOF rules. The Challenging courses in the finals.; WOC. rules should be clarified on this point in The atmosphere in the arenas; The Czech federation bought the sponsor- the futhure. Excellent TV production; ship rights from IOF. They worked together Well skilled, positive and hardworking or- with TK Plus marketing agency. In the interview in WOC News#5 you an- ganisers; In this WOC Czech TV had 72 persons work- swered, that the most critical will be the That we had planned for a high quality ing on the TV production. For future organis- sprint- and middle qualifications since level in medical care. ers this is a challenge. we would be organising the finals on the

same day. How do you think now, that You supervised all the preparations for What do the sponsorship rights from IOF the organisers managed this challenge? WOC. But was there, in spite of that, any- mean in particular and what advantages Very well. Everything worked as planned thing which surprised you during WOC does purchasing of such rights bring to the without any problems. itself, both in a negative and a positive organiser? way? This was a good solution for the organis- Is there now anything that you would The positive feedback on the Web page. ers. They were allowed to find their own advise the next WOC organisers to do or The organisers had even higher ambitions; sponsors. They worked closely with TK Plus not to do, just based on the Czech WOC? they wanted to send on-line pictures and marketing agency. One of the results of the The atmosphere the organiser created at the speaker’s voice. It was expensive, and cooperation with TK Plus was WOC by CEZ the campus in Neředín with cheap accom- they were unable to organise external GROUP. modation for most teams. payment and had to cancel this idea. Follow up and learn from the experience We were lucky with the weather and tem- In the first interview, I didn’t ask more on arena/TV production. It is not easy to perature, except for the middle distance about your own top orienteering experien- have a signed agreement with TV years races. ces, but I think, you were once also mem- in advance. In Czech the agreement was To see how the planning of the arenas ber of Norwegian national team? And your signed in November 2007. Czech TV vis- turned out in reality. husband too? ited the terrains in late April. The course I wish more countries had used the TV I was a member of the Norwegian team from planners then had to make changes to suit production from WOC. 1972 to 1980 and so was my husband. From their requirements: move the start for the 1986 I have done administrative work in ori- long finals and make adjustments on the And in general, what issues did you enteering in the club, district, federation and courses. spend most time on during WOC? IOF. Learn from the Czech IT and time-keeping Supervising preparation of the start lists; My husband worked during WOC as the na- solutions. Preparation for Team Officials` Meetings; tional controller`s assistant. Have high quality medical care at the are- Checking at the starts, staying there until nas, to secure equal treatment for athletes the first runner had come through; Do you already know, or plan, what might be from all nations. Closing the quarantine; your next duty in a role of an IOF advisor? Follow IOF`s rules on winning times. Chair person of the jury; I have to end the work with this WOC be- Available for advising and answering fore I accept my next duty. However I will be As almost anywhere in human activity, questions and requests from organisers willing to do a new IOF advisor’s job, if I am the level of services offered during WOC and team officials, and interpretations of asked. is more or less still rising, I hear opinions IOF Rules. that still fewer federations will be able to And what remains in your duty with WOC meet the demands, under the usual con- Did the jury need to resolve any com- 2008 ? ditions that the event is almost entirely plaint during WOC ? I remem- To complete the final report. or at least in a major part ensured by vo- ber only one, which lunteers. And thus that there will be still didn’t con- Will you be somehow involved in the Nor- fewer federations applying for organi- wegian WOC in 2010? sing WOC - the recent examples are quite Not yet. However I talked to the national confirming this, Switzerland controller yesterday and he asked me for was the only advice.

6 WOC2008, Legionářská 12, CZ-772 00 Olomouc - [email protected] - www.woc2008.cz How a Star Is Born

I just met the “happy mum”, Rája Smolová from Zlín, the mum of the “happy and silver” Michal Smola. And we tal- ked together with his father - Ivan Smola. Orienteers usually see each other looking anything How did Michal actually come into orienteering? but smart, so it is a strange experience every time they meet Mum: From a child already, he wanted to run and know the in a gala. Czech runners could enjoy such a situation during the time he took. At that time already, we had to measure his ceremony for announcing the best of the year’s o-runners, held on 12 time with a watch. Later, when he was in the fifth class, he December 2008 in Hotel Tennis Club in Prostějov. All three Czech WOC became a member of Astra Zlín orienteering group. His first medallists look really different here, don‘t you think? The overall results trainer was Jiří Stacke. Then just a small step brought him of the poll contest matched the medal achievements at WOC - golden to SKOB Zlín orienteering club. Dana Brožková (left in this photo) got the award of Best Czech Orienteer Father: We were taking our children into the country on of 2008, Michal Smola was second and Radka Brožková third. foot, on ski, on bike and so on. In Michal’s case this experi- ence seems to have penetrated deep. He used to spend a lot of time training. Sometimes we had to remind him of his school and study tasks – but it was a success. What does a day in Michal’s life look like? Mum: In the morning he runs, then he works as a teacher at the Tomáš Baťa University in Zlín, then he runs again. I don’t have an exact figure, but I estimate that he runs maybe 100 km a week, maybe even more. What does that mean for you? Mum: To wash his laundry and to repair his shoes – and then – how to feed him. Sometimes I make something that fits, sometimes he takes the meal alone. But he never ar- gues, he’s a good son. Father: We watched his progress from youth to junior and then to senior. We got acquainted with all his team leaders and his trainers as well as other orienteers – it’s a good company. And if he goes on to run like this – we’re flattered and we wish him to succeed. Jan Žemlík sen.

7 WOC2008, Legionářská 12, CZ-772 00 Olomouc - [email protected] - www.woc2008.cz The Smiths Family

No fewer than 5 members of the Smith family were in the 2008 Canadian team at WOC. I asked one of the youngest, Victoria, about the remarkable success story of the Smiths.

Mum and dad Smith have 6 children in gian elite runner Johansen. Sandy and Victoria running with Louise all. Wil, the oldest, started orienteering Sandy holds the honour of the best Smi- Oram. Apart from Sandy who has bigger at school and when he began to go to th WOC result so far, 9th place at middle ambitions, the Canadian team as a whole events, his parents decided that it was distance in Japan in 2005. She has a son, will be happy whenever someone does something all the family could take part Aksel, aged just over 1, so Mum Smith well enough in the qualification races to in, in one way or another. Little did they was here too along with Holger, not se- reach the finals. realise at the time the extent to which ori- lected for the Norwegian team this time The Smiths are now spread all over Cana- enteering would take over family life. because of earlier sickness, in a babysit- da and beyond, so WOCs and selection The youngest members of the family are ting role. races become occasions for big family the twins Victoria and Heather. Victoria Wil (on the left in the photo) is the oldest reunions. herself, who started orienteering when and most experienced family member in What is the secret behind so much orien- she was 7, has run in just one WOC before, the team, and when not running he was teering success in the family, I asked? A that in Ukraine last year, whilst Heather amongst the media people taking photo- hard work ethic was the answer. And they competed also in Denmark in 2006. Next graphs. clearly have worked hard for the fantastic in line of increasing age is Jon, who is no I asked Victoria if there had ever been an achievement of having 5 of the family in longer an orienteer. all-Smith relay team at WOC. „Not yet“, the Canadian team. Mike is the next oldest, and then comes she says, „but it could happen amongst the Clive Allen Sandy Hott, who is married to the Norwe- girls“. This year’s pre-selected team has Photo: Luella Smith (mother)

8 WOC2008, Legionářská 12, CZ-772 00 Olomouc - [email protected] - www.woc2008.cz The less fortunate …

Normally during WOC the main focus is naturally on the most successful runners, the medallists and others who perform up to or better than expected. This year, however, there were two incidents of a more negative character which hit the orienteering headlines: ’s bee in the throat which deprived him and France of a more-or-less certain medal in the men’s relay, and ’s missed punch at the TV control in the sprint when he was on his way to a bronze-medal time. Other less fortunate runners included Riina Kuuselo FIN who had to retire in the long distance final because of the effects of high fever the day before; Marianne Andersen NOR who lost a contact lens in mid-race in the long distance final; Øystein Kvaal Østerbø, also NOR, who lost 50 seconds in the sprint retrieving his SI card; Michal Smola CZE who got a stick in his eye one-third of the way through the long distance final. Then there were those who didn’t get to WOC at all because of longer-term illness or injury: these included Lena Eliasson and David Andersson, Sweden. And of course we were missing the ‘queen of the forest’ from the last few years, Simone Niggli, but for the best of reasons – pregnancy. photos: 4 x Pavel Adámek, 1 x Petr Kadeřávek Adámek, 1 x Petr 4 x Pavel photos:

Merja Rantanen didn‘t enjoy the long Apparently Emma Engstrand wasn’t sa- race much. On the long leg she fell from tisfied with her ninth position either, An injured shoulder troubled Heli Juk- 7th to 12th place, and after losing 4 mi- which in the end was the worst amongst kola from the start of WOC, and finally nutes on the 22nd control - almost at the the Swedish women in the long race. forced her to miss the long distance final finish - she was even down to 17th, ma- and the relay and thus almost for sure at naging 15th place in the end. least one WOC medal...

An enthusiastic fan and spectator, who arrived by bike from Lithuania (!) was visibly so different that many remembered him, including the organisers, for example because he regularly stayed at the computer in the Event Centre adjusting his photos until very late in the night. And why is he included on this page? One day, his much-tra- velled bike was sto- len from d i r e c t l y in front of the event Audun Weltzien collapsed from ex- office... haustion at the finish of the long.

9 WOC2008, Legionářská 12, CZ-772 00 Olomouc - [email protected] - www.woc2008.cz Finland heads medals table

Runners from eight different nations won medals at WOC. Finland, the only nation to win two gold medals (Minna Kauppi at middle distance and the women’s relay team), tops the medals table. Second equal are Russia and Switzerland, both with one gold, two silver and one bronze. The full medals table is:

GOLD SILVER BRONZE Finland 2 1 0 Russia 1 2 1 Switzerland 1 2 1 Norway 1 2 0 Czech Republic 1 1 1 France 1 0 1 Sweden 0 0 4 Great Britain 1 0 0 Photo: Lubomír Macháček Lubomír Photo:

10 WOC News Nr. 12 - editor: [email protected] - photos unless cited: Petr Kadeřávek - translations Jan Kramoliš, Petr Kadeřávek