Here is the list of the “lucky ones”:

The prizes to the winners will be delivered by post. The winners shall claim their prizes at jan@sportoftoday.com. The entries to the Martin Kronlund trophy and Jukola 2007 are transitional. However, the person who has won them shall indicate, in an email sent to the address jan@sportoftoday.com, name of the person who will claim the entry. This person shall claim the entry at the email address jan@sportoftoday.com.

Introduction of the sponsors:

Vavrys company: Producer of top elite orienteering clothing, shoes, gaters and other equipment, which is sold world-wide.

Virkiä Jukola 2007 in Finland: world’s best and biggest orienteering club relay, which will be held in exciting terrains around Lapua this year on 16th and 17th June.

Martin Kronlund Trophy in Spain: an international Orienteering event in Spain with the greatest tradition. This year it will be held in terrain around Peguerinos 80 km northwest of Madrid at the weekend of 10th – 11th March.

Orienteering Today: The world’s only international orienteering magazine covering Orienteering in all its forms, whereever it is done. The magazine was reorganized last year and is now published in Norway.

Jukola 2006 calendar: Lucie Navarová is the photographer of Orienteering Today and the photos in this calender for the year 2007 feature the highlights of the 2006 Jukola in Salo as seen through the lens of her camera.

I think your preparation for the World Cup final can be described as extreme, regardig the amount of time you spent orienteering in the terrain. Were you not afraid to invest so much into it? That in case you didn’t succeed, it could be very stressful?
When you know that you are very well prepared… when you know you have done all the work before, then you feel very relaxed. It is exactly the same as it is at school. You have worked so hard in your preparation that you can’t see a question you would have no answer to.
After the World Championships in Denmark, before the World Cup, I ran through 1000 controls… and all the time, if I made a mistake, I tried to see what was wrong and find the answer. Before the World Cup started, I knew that I was the one who had the best feeling for the terrain, so it was just about taking the map and run. The only mistake you can do in situations like this is to forget to read the map, because of the stress, but once you find the right balance, nothing can be easier.

I see, but I still think it must have been difficult to handle the first event of the programme, the Sprint, which was a discipline in which you had the smallest advantage compared to the other runners as here the terrain was not that special and everyone could run well. Wasn’t it?
I got good results in every discipline, all kind of terrain. I am never afraid about terrain and format. And of course I knew this Sprint was very important because the terrain wasn’t so special and there the difference between runners wasn’t so much affected by the preparation and training. And same I knew Emil and Daniel are both top class orienteers in Sprint and I am not at their level in this discipline.
But these were the given facts I couldn’t change. On the other hand, I knew that to succeed in the overall World Cup, I couldn’t skip the Sprint. To win the World Cup was possible only if I was the best in all the disciplines.

Did you also train a lot for this Sprint or was it mainly Middle and Long you focused on? And what effect did it actually have on you that the schedule changed after the storm due to which the Middle distance final was shifted?
I trained for the Sprint most in the very final preparation. Before the schedule changed after the storm, I had hoped to run well the Middle and win points on Emil and Daniel, and then to keep the pressure on them before the Long Final. But when the schedule changed due to the storm, the Sprint became more important. And I’m quite sure if Daniel had won this first final race, the whole scenario of the World Cup Final would have been very different for me.

And my last question, what was it actually for you the experience of the stormy day, on which the Middle distance final was stopped and later on rescheduled for another day?
I came to the start and there I was told the race got canceled. I was really disappointed and really angry about the organizers… because I knew that I would loose the overall WC standing if they didn’t find the solution. But there was nothing to do about it. I packed my things and returned to the accommodation. I felt depressed and really hoped that the organizers would find a new solution in this situation. But there was one thing really good about it. This whole “storm affair” made me realize how important the race was for me. I understood that missing this competition would meant a lot to me and last thing I wanted was to have regrets when the Word Cup Final was over…

Thierry Gueorgiou – Achievement of the Year 2006
Nominated for: Three consecutive individual World Cup victories in France in Sprint, Long and Middle, securing him the overall World Cup 2006.
Other achievements: European Champion in Middle distance 2006.
Story: Thierry Guergiou has been the king of the Middle distance for several years. In 2003 he outclassed the whole World in this discipline at the World Championships in Switzerland and set new standards for orienteering in this most technical discipline. Since then, he had never lost to anyone in Middle distance at major Championships. Until this 4th August this year, when the Norwegian Holger Hott Johansen overtook the reign over the Middle distance throne. His 4th place in the middle distance at WOC 2006 in Denmark this year was certainly a huge disappointment to him, but also a great source of motivation. After Denmark, he put everything into the preparation for the World Cup final which took place on his home ground at Clermont-Ferrand in France in October. There on special and tricky lava terrain he completed a fantastic hatrick and won all the individual events and thus secured himself a premiere victory in the overall World Cup!

» Runner profile Thierry Guergiou
» Poll: Best of Orienteering 2006

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Since 2003 you have never lost Sprint to anyone at the World Championships, so I guess the night before the Long distance, in which you achieved your 11th gold medal must have been quite difficult.
Yes, it was. But not so much because I would have lost the Sprint to Hanny. I was still quite happy with the silver medal, even if not so much with how I had been orienteering in the race. All in all, in the evening before the Long I stayed up quite late and we were actually celebrating the medal a bit. But I felt quite tired in my head after Sprint and it was difficult for me to get this race out of my head and refocus on the challenge ahead. I needed time to recover mentally, especially when I got bad headache before I went to bed. I think the Sprint day had been more stressful than I could imagine. In the end I was really happy that the Long final was in the afternoon and so I had good time to recover mentally. I also talked to my sport psychologist, and together we again discussed the Sprint a little bit, but we also focused on what was important to do before the Long distance, which helped me a lot.

And then in the Long distance, I think for the first time you found yourself in a situation when some of the runners was able to get close to you even after you did a pretty good race… What was the feeling when you came to the spectator control and learned that Marianne Andersen was just a mere 20 seconds behind?
For me this certainly was special situation. I was happy that I heard I was in the lead and I knew I done a good race so far. But I also could feel a few times that some of the “micro” route choices I took were not the best. There were still a few little things I could have done better. And most importantly I knew that I had to fight on. I knew that my only chance to win this race was to focus on the map reading and avoid any big mistake, and run fast in places where orienteering was not so difficult and challenging. I knew that this was what I had to manage first if I wanted to hope for the victory.

On the other hand, despite winning with big margins must be nice, I guess that this time you must have been really proud of yourself that you managed to handle this situation, which I can imagine was far from easy for you?
Yes, exactly. I was very proud of myself in the finish. I might not have managed this a handle this pressure. It was the first time I found myself in a situation like this in WOC Long distance.

Were you actually surprised how close Marianne got?
I think was in a really good shape at the World Champs. Marianne took a big step forward. I think I had a really good speed in Long distance, but it is also true that in this kind of terrain, which is relatively easy physically, the differences between the runners are not so big. So I was aware that there were a few other runners who could run very well.

And then came the Middle distance, a race in which you conquered your 12th gold medal from World Championships… What had been your expectations of this race and were they fullfilled?
I really have to say that I found this race very interesting Middle distance. There were different types of terrain, many course variations. It was a really great race and really enjoyed it. Maybe also because I felt so relieved after the Long distance, with which I had completed my goals, which were to win silver and gold. And this time I was also fully confident about my orienteering technique. We knew what was ahead and I felt prepared.

How did you actually like these World Championships?
There was really good atmosphere at the champs, it really felt like being in World Champs, compared to last year for example. Last year was special because the event was organised in Japan, but on the other hand, running in atmosphere like the one at the World Champs this year definitely gives something extra to you as a runner. And personally, this year it was tougher for me to win all these medals. Last year I won the first the medal and then it just went on. But this year, there were quite many different kind of challenges. Not the best performance in Sprint, tough fights against Marianne in Long and Middle. And also the injury which happened to me in Relay. This year I could really feel all my medals were fully deserved.

Simone Niggli – Achievement of the Year 2006
Nominated for: With WOC gold medals in Long and Middle distances 2006 completing a collection of 12 gold medals from World Championships.
Other achievements: Overall World Cup winner 2006. Winner of all the World Cup Long distances in 2006.
Story: This 28-year-old Swiss is the most successful orienteer ever and her collection of 12 WOC gold medals is something unprecedented in this sport. For the first time she dominated the women’s orienteering world in 2000 when she won the overall World Cup, an achievement she confirmed ever since. Niggli’s first WOC gold came in the Long distance in Tampere in Finland in 2001. Her major achievements on the World Championship level took place in 2003 and 2005, when claimed gold medals in all the four disciplines – Sprint, Middle, Long and Relay. Her mission in Denmark this year was impressive again. With two gold medals, one silver and one bronze, she became the most successful orienteer at the Champs.

» Runner profile Simone Niggli
» Poll: Best of Orienteering 2006

Emil Wingstedt is at the moment Swedish best orienteer and thank to him the country won its only gold medal at the World Championships. For Wingstedt himself, this gold was 5th in the discipline from major Championships, which is something rarely seen in men’s orienteering these days. (Something only the amazing Frenchman Thierry Gueorgiou was able to achieve in Middle distance, in which he won three consecuite WOC title in a row and two straight EOC gold in addition.)
This race to the gold in Denmark and to fifth straight Sprint Championship gold earned this 31-year-old Swede nomination for the Achievement of the Year.

In the WOC Sprint final you won your fifth straight gold from major Championships.. How was this race from your point of view?
Compared to the previous Sprints at the Championships I won, this time I didn’t do a perfect race. But I managed the key moments on the course best, which I think was a reason, why I was at the top, even if this time, I have to admit I was very lucky too, as Daniel was so so close…

What was perhaps most spectacular was the way you handled the long route-choice to the 10th control. Can we get back to this leg and would you describe in detail how you orienteered there?
I think it all started on the leg to the 7th control. I was rather surprised about this leg. It was quite easy, only one route-choice and gave you time to prepare for the long leg to the 10th. It’s quite unusual in Sprint races nowadays. So once I was at the 9th control I could run straight away. I perhaps saved time in the start of the leg. I was running all the time without stopping at all. Once out on the horse track I saw opening on the other side and could run absolutely straight. I also had the feeling that this was the best route-choice, which also always helps you as it gives you self-confidence. While running, I had the time to check the other alternatives and saw them, but I still had the feeling that they were not so good. I didn’t see too many footprints in the ground at the start of the leg on the track, so I knew not many runners took the same option.

Even if got the second straight gold in Sprint, I think, you hoped for a medal also in other disciplines…
When I got the World Champion title in Sprint, I was naturally very glad and I hoped I would be able to keep my best shape for the Middle distance Final, but unfortunately it wasn’t so. Even if I did a very good race in the qualification, the final of the Middle distance was far from what I had hoped it would have been. My orienteering was too shaky and at few places I made really stupid mistakes. Perhaps it was impossible for me to get in 100% focus after the Sprint again. Which was perhaps a result of the long time I had to be out of training due to different injuries and illnesses this year.

I think generally you can be satisfied with this season. You won a title in two major Championships, you were a member of the bronze team in WOC Relay… On the other hand, with regards to the seasons ahead, what was perhaps quite disturbing were the many illnesses and small injuries which kept you out of training for relatively long time…
Yes. This was nothing nice and it was also a reason why I didn’t dare to try the Long distance at the World Championships, which is a discipline in which I would really like to achieve a good result one day. On the other hand, once I am sick, I simply do not want to take any risks and I don’t train until I am fully cured. This often is time consuming, but on the other hand, I really don’t want to gamble with my body. And as I told you earlier, I also believe that trainign while you are injured or sick, rather causes damage. I don’t think you should train when sick or not completely recovered after an injury.

WOC in Ukraine will be of the main focus for you next year I guess. Will you concentrate on Sprint again, or will you try to conquer the throne in other disciplines?
I am really looking forward to the programme of WOC in Ukraine next year, where Sprint is the last discipline of the programme. My main focus now will be on Middle and Long, both of which I want to be the main focus of my preparations. With good health I think I will be ready, but I have to be in good health, not like this year where I had to stop training for a couple of periods due to illnesses. What I also look forward to with regards to Ukraine is fast orienteering in terrain with good runnability. I like it when I’m able to run at full speed everywhere, which may be possible especially in the Middle distance.

Emil Wingstedt – Achievement of the Year 2006
Nominated for: Winning gold medals in Sprint at WOC and EOC at the World and European Championships. The gold in the World Championships was the fifth straight championship Sprint gold for this Swede.
Other achievements: Bronze medalist in WOC Relay. Sixth in the overall World Cup.
Story: The best Swedish orienteer of the recent past. The first time he won a major international event was at the European Championships in Hungary in 2002, where he dominated in the Sprint. Since then he has been always near the top in big international Championships. In 2004 he defended his European Champion title in Sprint and in 2005 in Japan he won his premiere World Championships gold in the discipline. This year, in 2006 the 31-year-old Swede living in Halden struggled with health problems, but managed to get in shape for both the European and World Championships, in which he claimed two more gold medals in Sprint. The gold medal from the Sprint in Mindenparken at the World Championships was his 5th straight Championships gold medal in the discipline.

» Runner profile Emil Wingstedt
» Poll: Best of Orienteering 2006

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