Poll: Orienteering Achievement of 2011 - Women

» Runner profile Minna Kauppi

    Vote for Minna Kauppi

Story
The spectators present in Savoie, France at the World Orienteering Championship long distance final this year did not believe what they saw on the big screen: The 7 time WOC gold medalist Minna Kauppi gave up without even having found the first control after a gigantic mistake. After a season with a lot of sickness, it looked like this would not be Kauppi’s WOC. However, everything turned from grey to gold through Kauppi’s ability to perform in first-to-finish fights when it really counts: - It was the same as it always is [in a WOC relay]. I do a big mistake, and then there is big drama, and then we win, Kauppi said after the race. - This was the best gold medal ever.

» Runner profile Helena Jansson

    Vote for Helena Jansson

Story
The most happy orienteer of the year? Not far from it for Helena Jansson after her gold medal in WOC middle distance. - It did not feel like a gold race, but it was, a very happy Jansson said after her race. After silver and bronze in sprint and long - the gold medal on the middle distance tasted very good for the popular Swedish runner. - It is unbelieveable. It was very difficult in the forest, the Swede said after her third medal of three possible. The gold medal was the first Swedish middle/short distance gold medal since Anna Bogren’s gold in 1993. The positive vibe Jansson spreads around her makes her a joy for the spectators.

» Runner profile Ida Bobach

    Vote for Ida Bobach

Story
In 2008 Ida Bobach said "In 10 years I am a senior World Champ! But that is just a dream. I think that in 10 years I am spending much time on elite orienteering and I am trying to be the world’s best orienteer." After three years, the fast Dane is only on step away from the top of the ladder - still as a junior. Bobach has had a fantastic career - and everything points towards her becoming one of the really big stars in orienteering in the years to come. A fantastic achievement! Photo: Torben Utzon.

» Runner profile Linnea Gustafsson

    Vote for Linnea Gustafsson

Story
- That the three of us manage to take all the medals is the greatest of it all, a very happy Linnea Gustafsson said after the Swedish triple in the World Orienteering Championships sprint in Chambery this August. Gustafsson had a fantastic season in 2009 - her international breakthrough seaosn. That gave her a 4th place in the nomination for the Orienteering Achievement of 2009 for her silver medal in WOC sprint as a newcomer in the orienteering elite. 2010 was a tough season - ridden by injuries - and the first part of the preparations for the World Champs in 2011 did not go as planned. However, when Gustafsson decided to go 100% for the sprint in France, things started to go Linnea’s way...

» Runner profile Annika Billstam

    Vote for Annika Billstam

Story
Annika Billstam’s carrier as an orienteer started when she was 9 years old, in Järfälla OK. It ended at the age of seventeen - but luckily Billstam came back to the sport 8 years later studying in Uppsala. - I still have strong memories from one of my first races in Uppsala, Bllstam said when she was nominated for the Orienteering Achievement of 2008. - I did a technically good race but was more then ten minutes after the winner. I was surprised but had such good time in he forest and was strongly fascinated by the feeling of flow. - Since that day I´ve taken many steps towards my dream. To achieve a perfect race (so close you can come) in a World Championship, with this feeling of flow and happiness. Billstam’s lead was 47 seconds already at the 1st control at this years WOC long distance.

» Runner profile Judith Wyder

    Vote for Judith Wyder

Story
With big Swiss star Simone Niggli out due to childbirth, the Swiss women were not among the favourites in this years World Champs. The Swiss men on the other hand were big medal favourites on the WOC middle distance in France - one of the most tricky races of the season. However, on a day when all the Swiss men missed the Top-6, Wyder took a sensational bronze medal for Switzerland. - I would also have been happy with a Top-10 position, Judith Wyder said after her race. In the end Wyder could bring the bronze medal back over the border to Switzerland after beating Minna Kauppi on the last meters...

» Runner profile Dana Safka Brozkova

    Vote for Dana Safka Brozkova

Story
Dana Safka Brozkova has a remarkable ability to make her best performances when it really counts. Ahead of taking her fourth individual WOC medal in France this year with the silver medal on the long distance, Brozkova had not performed on this level since the EOC silver in Bulgaria in 2010. But in France it wasn’t over with the long distance silver for the Czech woman: In the thriller WOC relay in Savoie Brozkova run the Czech Team into bronze medal - just a few meters behind Minna Kauppi.

» Runner profile Tove Alexandersson

    Vote for Tove Alexandersson

Story
Tove Alexandersson is only 19 years old - and has already achieved more within orienteering than most others do within their lifetime. - In my 18th year I have participated in 4 World Championships, taken 7 Junior World Championships medals, taken 2 World Championships medals [...] and been nearly 20 weeks in training camps, Alexandersson writes on her blog. How many individual medals could this young Swede have taken in the World Champs if she would have been allowed to start in all the WOC races...? - The middle distance was the toughest, [...] it felt hard to yet another time only being able to cheer.

» Runner profile Heidi Bagstevold

    Vote for Heidi Bagstevold

Story
Bagstevold was very disappointed after not getting selected for the World Championships on home ground in Trondheim in 2010 - a championship which would have been a perfect fit for the technically strong Norwegian runner. The WOC dream came through when qualifying for France in 2011 - but then Bagstevold failed to qualify for the middle distance final. Bagstevold came back on the long distance, however, and made the performance of her life with a 5th place.