The last season for Matthias Merz, Matthias Leonhardt (Müller) and Simone Niggli

I am really sad when such great runners stop their careers. Of course, it is part of life and new stars are coming. But every top athlete is unique person with unique way in Orienteering. And world Orienteering loses when they retire.

The end of cross-country running season

At Friday and today were last races of my cross-country running season. At Friday I participated in regional cross-country competition among runners from militaries, policy and firefighters. Today was regional competitions among students. Courses length is 3 km in both cases but with different profiles. I was running in men heats.

Top coaches in elite Orienteering: case of Simone Niggli

Simone Niggli (Switzerland) is a legendary athlete. She won incredible 23 WOC gold medals, 10 EOC gold medals. Simone has one the biggest number of Word Cup events victories in sport history. Swiss runner won World Cup events 63 times (Annemarie Moser-Pröll from alpine skiing - 62; Marit Bjørgen - 59). She has dozens victories in other international competitions (Tiomila, Venla, World Games, JWOC, WRE, etc.).  Also Swiss athlete is 8 times overall World Cup winner (for now 23/09/2013). Simone Niggli tells about her coach Vroni König-Salmi.

Victory in the National Running Day: 7,7 km - 26:00

22 September is the National Running Day in Russia. 80 cities and towns participate in running initiative this year. In total 491 thousands runners entered to competition. I was running in my home city Barnaul (West Siberia) at the distance 7,7 km road running. I won competition with quite good time - 26:00 (3:23 min/km).

Victory in Altai region cross-country running championships (3,3 km - 10:57)

Today morning I won in Altai region cross-country running championships. Distance was 3,3 km. Weather was perfect (sunny and dry) and good surface without big climbing. My result is 10:57.

Dmitriy Tsvetkov tells about crucial leg 16-17 and crucial mistake at WOC 2013 (Long)

Dmitriy Tsvetkov (Russia) is 2X World champion and 2X European champion. He is one of the best relay runner in modern orienteering. Russian athlete won gold medals from ALL major IOF competitions (World Games, WOC, EOC, JWOC). For the moment there are just 6 runners in world orienteering who has all victories: Simone Niggli, Matthias Merz, Daniel Hubmann, Andrei Khramov, Minna Kauppi, Dmitriy Tsvetkov, and Matthias Kyburz. Dmitriy got 4th place at Long distance (WOC-2013, Vuokatti). He tells about crucial leg 16-17 (best split time), his crucial mistake, and winner times estimations at world championships.

Top coaches in elite Orienteering: case of Lena Eliasson

Lena Eliasson (Sweden) is one of the fastest women in the world orienteering (PB in half-marathon is 1:15:48; 3000 m - 9:46.22). Swedish athlete is famous like a strong Sprint specialist (7 medals from WOC, EOC, NOC and World Cup events). But this year she has focused on forest orienteering and made a breakthrough.  Lena tells about her coach Kalle Dalin (on photo).

Top coaches in elite Orienteering: case of Helena Jansson

Helena Jansson (Sweden) is one of the best female athletes in modern Orienteering, strong technically and physically. She won dozens of medals from WOC, EOC, NOC, JWOC, World Cup events (include 2 victories at WOC 2009, 2011 and overall victory in World Cup 2011). Helena tells about her impressive coaching team.