World of O News
In Denmark, at the World Championships, Minna Kauppi brought Finland home to a gold medal in the women’s Relay, something she had already done at the European Championships in Otepää in May. Both achievements which earned her nomination among the world’s best orienteers in the Achievement of the Year 2006 Poll. In this interview, parts of which were published in the latest issue of Orienteering Today, we talked with Kauppi about the World Championships Relay as well as about a strange disease, which keeps affecting her performance at the WOC level.
The WOC 2006 Relay; one of the craziest last legs I have ever seen in elite orienteering. Could you tell me a bit how it felt from your perspective in the forest. I guess a couple of times you must have believed that the race for the gold was over.
That’s true, and I’m not too proud about my performance either, even though I’m proud that we won! Well, I suppose the most crucial moment for me was at the third last control…
What were your feelings before the start? Your shape was obviously not the best…
First of all. I was really very unsure about my self and part of me didn’t really even want to run. Because I was in a similar situation last year in Japan as well. Not feeling well and really disappointed about my individual races. At EOC I was certainly much more confident and feeling physically stronger as well.
And maybe I should be more open about some things. My bad results at WOC-level can be explained quite well. For five years now I’ve had this terrible illness called colitis ulserosa which is an auto-immune disease. It is caused by genes and stress. And as an athlete I’ve got pretty much stress in my life, especially at big events. So at those competitions my colon gets more inflamed than usual and then I’m not in good shape at all.
I see. So when did you actually decide to run the Relay? Did you have to be persuaded?
After the Middle final I announced that I didn’t want to be the anchor. I knew that I should run the relay but I also felt that I wouldn’t be the fighter I usually am. So a little bit of persuasion was needed. On the other hand, I wanted to prove to myself that I can do it and that we can do it.
Actually, I don’t know if I had any other choice. Of course I could have said that I was not going to run but it was just obvious that you couldn’t skip the Relay.
I see.
But everyone in our team knew the situation so I wasn’t under that much pressure either. And Paula and Heli, they both didn’t feel like being the anchor either. So we were quite humble before the competition, and just decided to do our best.
But then, when you were out on the first loop, there everything seemed to have gone quite well for you, especially compared to other teams who started behind you.
Yes, quite well. But I still made a few mistakes.
Alright, but when you got into the arena you must have learned from the coaches that the teams behind were not getting any closer.
That’s true. It was a big relief, because I was, in fact, quite sure that Simone would come and get me. Karro seemed to me a bit lost at that time.
Why am I asking this? Because what happened in the last part of the course, sort of reminded me of the relay at EOC in Estonia where you also, you had a good lead at the spectator control, but then made some real “beginner” mistakes on the final loop.
Partly yes, because I made the biggest mistakes in the last loop there as well. I was too nervous after all. In EOC I was tired, of course, and stopped orienteering too soon, basically I lacked concentration. But in Denmark it was different. There I started to think about winning, that’s why I got lost.
Did you actually believe in gold after what happened at the 3rd last control? Or did you think the teams behind had passed you?
That was my worst fear, but luckily I could hear about the real situation from the finish arena.
Aha, so it was possible to hear the speaker that far away?
Not from that far, but right after the third last, I could hear it. And right after that I also saw Karro running towards the third last.
That must have been a relief. After all that drama, what was it you felt in the run-in when you met Heli and Paula? Relief or happiness?
Both I guess, but the feeling of relief was quite strong.
Minna Kauppi – Achievement of the Year 2006
Nominated for: As anchor bringing Finland to gold medals in Relays both at the World Championships and European Championships.
Other achievements: Gold medalist from the EOC Middle distance. Third place in the overall World Cup.
Story: The Finn Minna Kauppi has been great competitor since her junior years. At the moment, she seems to be the one among women who can challenge and threaten the phenomenal Simone Niggli, especially on the last leg of Relay. This year the two runner had two head-to-head fights on the last leg in Relay and both times it was this young Finn who came out as a winner. Kauppi definitely has the speed and the talent, but sometimes her orienteering is a little bit too fragile and she can make mistakes which are hard to believe. However, when all the pieces of the winning puzzle fit together, she can achieve the highest of positions; as was the case in the Middle distance at the European Championships in Estonia.
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» Runner profile Minna Kauppi
» Poll: Best of Orienteering 2006
