Two or three things I know about it...

1. ASUL Sports Nature won the first ever French Orienteering Championships of Sprint Relay. Formed by Juliette, Marian, Lucas and Isia Basset, the “quatour” got the victory over Nature Orientacion Saint Étienne and ACA Aix-en-Provence. The next day, time for the French Orienteering Championships of Middle Distance which were attended by 2,200 competitors. The winners in the Elite classes were Isia Basset (ASUL Sports Nature), with a two-minute advantage over Eva Jurenikova (ACA Aix-en-Provence), and Lucas Basset (ASUL Sports Nature), with nearly three-minute advantage over Olivier Blanc-Tranchant (O’Jura). Finally, NOSE – Nature Orientacion Saint Étienne(with Thibaut Magne, Jasmina Gassner, Odile Perrin, Rémi Baudot, Amélie Chataing, Clement Flori, Corentin Roux and Matthieu Perrin) got the French title of clubs, with GO78 and ACA Aix-en-Provence following on the podium places. Complete results and further information at http://www.ffcorientation.fr/actus/2017/04/26/retour-sur-le-championnat-de-france-des-clubs/.

2. Great scenery, wonderful weather and challenging courses were the best ingredients of a perfect MTBO weekend in Austria. Starting the best way, Tobias Breitschädel (ASKÖ Henndorf) showed his qualities on the shorter distances and prevailed before Bernhard Schachinger (HSV Ried) and Andreas Rief (OLC Graz), achieving the National MTBO title of Middle Distance. Junior and Relay World champion, Andreas Waldmann (OLT Transdanubien), had problems at the Middle Distance, but managed to perform highly on the second day, winning the Long Distance race with more than 5 (!) minutes over Bernhard Schachinger (HSV Ried). In the Women Elite class, foreign guests were very strong on both days, with Algirda Zaliauskaite, Lithuania, winning the Middle Distance and Hana Garde, representing SK Bratislava, unbeatable in the Long Distance. Best Austrian on both days was Marina Reiner (Naturfreunde Villach). She got the Austrian title in the Middle Distance before Sonja Zinkl (LZ OMAHA) and Michaela Gigon (OLT Transdanubia), second and third placed, respectively. The event was attended by 120 competitors from Austria, Hungary, Lithuania, France, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia and Germany.

3. The town of Sobotka, onn the foothills of Slesza mountain, Poland, hosted the second edition of the Central European Youth Orienteering Cup and was just as successful as the Event premiere in the Czech Republic, in 2016. More than 100 young runners, from Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany and Slovakia took part in the three-day races in different categories (M/W-16 and M/W-18). The races started with a Sprint event, followed by a Middle Distance race and finishing with an exciting Relay. The Hungarian Csilla Gardonyi (W16) and Ferenc Jonas (M16), and the Czech Tereza Janosikova (W18) won the two individual races and were the biggest names of CEYO Cup. The Czech Vit Horcicka won the Sprint in the M18 class, while Jakub Dekret won the Middle distance race in M1, which was a premiere victory for Slovakia. Relay teams from Hungary were the most successful, beating the Czech Republic in both Men and Women 16 classes. The W18 category turned out to be the most dramatic, with the three best relay teams running for medals and it wasn’t until the final part of the last leg where the results were decided. On the other hand, the two Czech relay teams showed their qualities and easily ranked first and second in the M18 category, while there was a fierce competition for the third place won by Germany. “The event was a good rehearsal for us for the upcoming World Games in July,” said Wojtek Dwojak, the event manager. Hungary will host the Cup next year from 6th to 8th April 2018. Everything to know at http://ceyoc2017.pl/en/.

4. Would you like to create the trailer for the Swiss Orienteering Week 2019 or do you know someone who would be suitable for it? Swiss O Week 2019 has just published an announcement in which organizers are seeking a team that will produce a preview video for SOW 2019. Sought out is a film team that produces a 5- to maximal 6-minute-long preview video highlighting the Swiss O Week 2019. The video will be published on the SOW-homepage as well as other different social media channels that will be covered by SOW 2019. It is planned to use the preview video for the national as well as the international market and will be deployed accordingly. If language and/or text is featured in the video, the English language should be used, if necessary, with sub-titles.The preview video is intended to give first impressions of the used course areas and of the competition centre of the SOW 2019 in Gstaad. It should encourage the viewers to sign-up early for the SOW 2019. Deadline for submitting the offer is 20th May 2017. All information about this subject can be found HERE.

Joaquim Margarido

Ursula Kadan: "I've decided to put a focus on Sprint"

Ursula Kadan introduces herself on the Portuguese Orienteering Blog's tribune, reviewing an up-and-down 2016 season. Looking forward to the World Orienteering Championships and the World Games, the silver medal achieved at the 2016 World Military Orienteering Championships, in Brazil, motivates her to face 2017 in a optimistic way.

I would start by asking you to introduce yourself: Who is Ursula Kadan?

Ursula Kadan (U. K.) - I was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1988 and grew up in Vienna and Eastern Styria (Fürstenfeld) together with two brothers and a sister. After my graduation I stayed six months in Kenya and then I went back to Vienna for studying. In 2012/13 I spent one semester abroad in Uppsala, Sweden. I completed my Master degree in Environment and Bio-Resources Management in 2015 and later that year I joined the Austrian Army to become a professional athlete. I'm living in Vienna together with my boyfriend Roland. Besides orienteering I love to cook and bake and to read. I used to be an enthusiastic musician and mountain climber, but now I rarely find the time for that, unfortunately.

How did you meet Orienteering?

U. K. - At the high school in Fürstenfeld we have these sports days at the end of the school year, where you can try out different kinds of sports. I was 12 years old when I gave orienteering a try at these sports days. And obviously I liked it, because when I came home I told to my parents: Next year I want to do orienteering!

What do you see in Orienteering that makes it so special?

U. K. - The combination of physical and technical/mental skills. And that it's a new challenge each and every time. I think there are not many sports where each competition is so unique.

You finished the season with a silver medal at the World Military Championships. How do you rate the 2016 season? Does the results achieved match with your expectations?

U. K. - To finish the season with that silver medal was just great, because it was a year of ups and downs. It started off with two very promising top 20 results at the first World Cup round in Poland. But then I got injured at the European Champs (cut my heel – fortunately the Achilles tendon was undamaged) and from then on I was struggling to fight my way back. I ran O-Ringen as a preparation for WOC, but it was a disaster, both physically and mentally. WOC itself was not too bad, considering the circumstances; but at the same time not what I had hoped for, with a 23rd place being my best individual result. Therefore I was really happy that I managed to finish the World Cup season with a 15th place in Switzerland. Not to forget our 7th place at the mixed sprint relay in Aarau! And to be on the podium at the Military World Champs in Brazil, of course.

How special was to compete in Brazil?

U. K. - It was quite special, indeed! I had been to South America only once (World Games 2013 in Colombia) and I knew that we had to be very open minded. It was hard to get any information about the terrain beforehand. The last training race before CISM took us to some “jungle” green areas where we had to form groups and spread out in order to find the controls. When it turned out that half of the Model Event map was just the same, I was quite discouraged. Fortunately, it was just some parts of the Middle Distance and, at the Long Distance, the girls didn't have any green at all.

Could you choose one or two truly important moments along the season?

U. K. - There was this kind of turning point after WOC when they told me that my contract with the Army would be extended for another year, even though I hadn't achieved the goal of top 20 at WOC. At that time I had already come to terms with ending my professional career, so this one year was like an unexpected gift to me. It encouraged me to dare some significant modifications in my training system, like changing my personal coach and a major dietary change. All these factors resulted in a quite successful Autumn season and I hope I can continue that way.

How do you evaluate the present moment of the Austrian Orienteering?

U. K. - This question is quite wide, but I will concentrate on “my” area, that is the work and performance of the national team. I think we are on a very good way. In 2010, when Rolf Gemperle became national coach, a process of professionalisation was initiated. Even though we've got a new national coach now, this good work was kept up. And the new coaches developed the system even further. Assistant coach Martin Binder and national coach Åke Jönsson also put a strong focus on team spirit and the results are already noticeable. I'm confident that we're just about to take the next step forward.

I would ask you a short comment on each of the following subjects: “Doping”, “Olympics” and “Prize money in Orienteering”?

U. K. - One thing I like about orienteering is that doping is not an issue, in a positive way. Of course doping could help also in orienteering, despite the big technical/mental component. But I think that we are far from this point – as long as orienteering remains as small as it is in terms of money and media coverage. And here we come to the other two subjects: If we were Olympic and had lots of prize money, this might change. Therefore, I'm always skeptical when it comes to these issues. Admittedly, it's easy for me to talk like this, being one of the few privileged persons who actually get money and insurance for doing orienteering. And of course it would be great to participate in “real” Olympic Games, instead of explaining all the time that there is this event called World Games, where Austria won a bronze medal after all...

What is the best for Orienteering: Split the WOC or not?

U. K. - Another tough question! Both alternatives have their advantages and disadvantages, both on the athletes' and organizers' side. For me as an athlete who is planning to focus on sprint, the idea of a pure sprint WOC is somehow charming, of course. And the same might apply to typical forest orienteers as Olav Lundanes. On the other hand, what about the “other” years? And I think there are very few athletes who do the whole “mixed” WOC program, so it might be okay to have a wider range of disciplines to choose from. To me, the number of athletes allowed to start at each discipline is maybe more important. The current system, where smaller countries have only two or even one slot, is not very satisfactory...

Turning the page to a new year, how is the winter season running?

U. K. - My winter training started quite late (middle of December) due to the late CISM. On New Year's Eve I fell ill, so I started into the new year with an unwanted training break. But that's good because usually I'm ill once per year maximum, so now I'm on the safe side for the rest of 2017 (laughs). Apart from that, the training has been going very well so far.

What are your projects for 2017? Are there any major goals which you're starting to work for?

U. K. - I've decided to put a focus on Sprint orienteering this year. Which doesn't mean that I won't compete in the forest, but I will concentrate on improving my physical skills such as running speed and style, mainly on hard underground. The technical aspect will deliberately be neglected a little bit until Easter – let's see how that works. My big goals this year are the sprint races at WOC in Estonia and at The World Games in Poland. And if the forest isn't as soft and deep as in Strömstad, I might also achieve some nice results in the forest disciplines.

[Photo: Sven Alexandersson]

Joaquim Margarido

2017 SkiO Tour: Khrennikov and Alexandersson were the winners

Eduard Khrennikov and Tove Alexandersson were the winners of the 2017 SkiO Tour, which called to Switzerland and Austria 56 Elite athletes from 9 different countries. Erik Rost and Mariya Kechkina got the second position while Stanimir Belomazhev and Alena Trapeznikova were third placed.

After the holiday break, the Ski Orienteering season returned in Switzerland and Austria with the 2017 SkiO Tour. Scoring for the IOF Ski Orienteering World Ranking, the event took place from 7th to 14th January, attracting to the Rhaetian Alps many of the discipline's best experts, for six stages of great, demanding Ski Orienteering.

The two initial stages took place in Davos, with the Russian Mariya Kechkina and the Swedish Tove Alexandersson sharing triumphs in the Women Elite class. Then, the SkiO tribe moved up to Fideris, still on Swiss soil, for the next two stages. Alexandersson performed greatly, reaching her second win and getting the overall lead of the SkiO Tour in the end of the third stage. Alena Trapeznikova, from Russia, was the winner of the fourth stage, but Tove remained first placed in the overall standings. For the last two stages, the ski-orienteers crossed the border towards Sulzberg, in Austria. Here, Mariya Kechkina reached her second victory in the Tour, setting in eighteen seconds the disadvantage to Alexandersson.

Heavy snowfall in the 6th stage

The last stage would be decisive, but... there was a heavy snowfall and the organizers were forced to postpone the start for several times. When the start was finally given, the initial format (chasing start) had been changed into a mass start, the distance had been shortened and, in the end, the organizers decided do not count the 6th stage to the overall standings. So, Tove Alexandersson reached a tight overall win with 3:18:57, Mariya Kechkina being the second placed, just 18 seconds after Alexandersson. Alena Trapeznikova reached the third placed, finishing 2:40 after the winner. Just one word to the Swedish Magdalena Olsson, 2nd placed in the second stage, the only one out of the top three able to reach a place in the podium in one stage.

In the Men Elite, the Bulgarian Stanimir Belomazhev was unbeatable in the three first stages, always followed by the Russian Eduard Khrennikov, but in the fourth stage he wasn't able to reach better than the 5th place, losing a fifty five-second advantage overall and seeing Khrennikov getting the lead. In the fifth stage – that would be the last one -, the Swedish Erik Rost was stronger than anyone, reaching the second place overall, 2:07 after the winner, Eduard Khrennikov. Belomazhev finished in the third place overall with more 3:32 than the winner. Third placed in the third stage and second place in the fifth stage, Andrey Lamov finished fourth overall, 1:22 away from the podium.

Overall results

Men Elite

1. Eduard Khrennikov (Russia Orienteering Federation) 3:22:30 (+ 00:00)

2. Erik Rost (Alfta Osa OK) 3:24:37 (+ 02:07)

3. Stanimir Belomazhev (Bulgarian Orienteering Federation) 3:26:02 (+ 03:32)

4. Andrey Lamov (IFK Mora OK) 3:27:24 (+ 04:54)

5. Martin Hammarberg (Sundsvalls OK) 3:28:30 (+ 06:00)

6. Andrey Grigoriev (Krasnoyarsk) 3:32:08 (+ 09:38)

7. Peter Arnesson (Bottnaryds IF) 3:34:04 (+ 11:34)

8. Sergey Gorlanov (Russia Orienteering Federation) 3:36:48 (+ 14:18)

9. Linus Rapp (IFK Mora OK) 3:39:48 (+ 17:18)

10. Mattis Jaama (Varska OK Peko) 3:45:35 (+ 23:05)

Women Elite

1. Tove Alexandersson (Alfta Osa OK) 3:18:57 (+ 00:00)

2. Mariya Kechkina (Russia Orienteering Federation) 3:19:15 (+ 00:18)

3. Alena Trapeznikova (Russia Orienteering Federation) 3:21:37 (+ 02:40)

4. Anastasiia Kravchenko (Khabarovsk krai) 3:30:28 (+ 11:31)

5. Tatyana Oborina (Russia Orienteering Federation) 3:30:37 (+ 11:40)

6. Antoniya Grigorova (Bulgarian Orienteering Federation) 3:47:29 (+ 28:32)

7. Emma Bergstroem (OK Vargen) 3:59:25 (+ 40:28)

8. Daisy Kudre (Varska OK Peko) 4:05:57 (+ 47:00)

9. Andreya Dyaksova (Bulgarian Orienteering Federation) 4:23:25 (+ 1:04:28)

10. Doris Kudre (Estonian Orienteering Federation) 4:32:05 (+ 1:13:08)

Full results and further information at http://www.skiotour.com/index.php/en/.

The Portuguese Orienteering Blog would like to thank you Andrey Lamov and Stanimir Belomazhev for their help to clarify the “cancellation” of the 6th stage.

Joaquim Margarido

Two or three things I know about it...

1. Davide Machado got the Long Distance gold of the Portuguese MTBO Championships 2016 in the Men Elite class. Finishing his course nearly five minutes after the winner, Luis Barreiro was the second placed, while the third place went to João Ferreira. Crowning a successful season, Ana Filipa Silva was the winner in the Women Elite class with an advantage of more than thirteen minutes over Tânia Covas Costa, the second placed. The Portuguese Champion in 2015, Susana Pontes, finished third. Casa do Povo da Abrunheira and Clube de Orientação do Centrob got the Relay titles in the Men and Women respectively. Organized by the COC – Clube de Orientação do centro, the event took place last weekend in Penela, in the centre of Portugal, with the presence of 97 athletes representing 22 clubs. More information at http://www.coc.pt/as-nossas-provas/vi-ori-btt/.

2. Earlier than usual, the Austrian MTBO season came to an end last weekend in Faak am See, in the Carinthia region. With two stages scoring for the Austrian league in MTB Orienteering, the event caught the attention of 153 participants, having in the National Championships of Sprint one of its highest moments. In the Women Elite, Marina Reiner reached the gold for the first time ever in her career, ahead of the “eternal” Michaela Gigon. Recovering a title that eluded him for the last four years, Tobias Breitschädel was the winner in the Men Elite, ahead of Bernhard Schachinger, second placed. Birgit Eisl and Andreas Waldmann took the third place in the Women and Men Elite, respectively. The complete results can be found at http://www.oefol.at/anne/files/uploaded/event_1778_ergebnissesa.pdf.

3. The upcoming Mountain Bike Orienteering World Cup Final 2016, in Kaunas (Lithuania), it's not only the Elite athletes. There are two hundred Masters competitors entered in the World Masters Series' races 13, 14 and 15 and we can expect a couple of exciting duels. According to Keith Dawson's post on MTBO Public Group on Facebook [HERE] “some interesting head to heads to look out for are the two threesomes Stockmayer vs Conn vs Kilberg in M50 and Lalavee vs Gustavsson vs Kolberg in M55. In the women's races Andersen vs Somers-Cocks in W55 and‎ Bonafini vs Barlet in W60 catch the eye!” Dawson remembers that “one mechanical, one mispunch or even one error or poor route choice could decide who goes home with Gold. The pressure and fun is on!” Latest results going into Lithuania can be seen at http://www.astrois.hu/mtbo/2016/WorldMaster2016Scores.htm.

Joaquim Margarido

  

OO Cup 2016: Maps and Results

Austria, Italy and Slovenia hosted the OO Cup 2016, an event attended by 1500 competitors and that had Jan Procházka and Lizzie Ingham as the big winners.

“A bit strange feelings to finish this project which occupied our minds for such a long time. It was definitely the most complicated OOcup to organize, but seeing your reactions after the race looks like it was worth it!” The OO Cup 2016 organizers' words are quite clear. The event extended by 5 days and 3 countries – Austria, Italy and Slovenia -, having the presence of nearly 1500 competitors. The first stage took place in Villach, Austria, the second and third stages were held in Fusine, Italy, while Soriška planina, Slovenia, hosted the two final stages. Martin Lejsek was the first stage's course setter and Ivan Nagy designed the Italian and Slovenian stages.

Winning four out of five stages, Jan Procházka got the first position overall in the Men Elite class, more than twenty minutes before the Swiss Baptiste Rollier. The seven minute win on Rollier in the first stage worked to Procházka as a perfect input and the needed motivation to a couple of great performances. Martin Janata (OOB Kotlarka Praha) finished third, 39:57 after the winner.

In the Women Elite, Lizzie Ingham (Halden SK) was second in the first stage, 5:30 after Ina Westerlund (OK77), but she was able to win the next three stages and getting a comfortable advantage of nearly ten minutes on her most direct opponents. In the last stage, Martiina Joensuu (SK Pohjantäthti) was stronger than anyone else, reaching the second position overall before Westerlund, who performed quite below the expectations. Ingham finished third in the stage, getting a twelve minutes win in this OO Cup edition.

Overall standings (after 5 stages)

M21E

1. Jan Procházka (SK Praga) 4:10:21 (+ 00:00)

2. Baptiste Rollier (Kalevan Rasti) 4:30:59 (+ 20:38)

3. Martin Janata (OOB Kotlarka Praha) 4:50:18 (+ 39:57)

4. Leif Bader (OK Kare) 4:55 :21 (+ 45:00)

5. Flavio Poltéra (Quack OK) 4:56:18 (+ 45:57)

W21E

1. Lizzie Ingham (Halden SK) 4:30:23 (+ 00:00)

2. Martiina Joensuu (SK Pohjantähti) 4:42:23 (+ 12:00)

3. Ina Westerlund (OK77) 4:45:14 (+ 14:51)

4. Kim Baxter (South Yorkshire Orienteers) 4:51:55 (+ 21:32)

5. Kristyna Kolinova (OOB Kotlarka Praha) 5:05:07 (+ 34:44)

Complete results and further information at http://www.oocup.com/

[Photo: OO Cup / www.facebook.com/oocup.slovenia]

Joaquim Margarido

Gernot Kerschbaumer: "A WOC medal is my goal and I still believe in it"

Ranked 41st in the World and one of the most valuable athletes in the Austrian Orienteering's history, Gernot Kerschbaumer is the Portuguese Orienteering Blog's guest. In this interview the athlete looks at the year of 2013, analyses the present moment of Orienteering and makes a wish to the season that is now beginning: “No pain while running!”

After some promising performances in New Zealand's World Cup, the rest of the season seemed not to be exactly what you had wished. Did you expect more, despite the excellent 15th position in the WOC Middle Distance?

Gernot Kerschbaumer (G. K.) - After the journey to New Zealand, I got some troubles with injuries (hip tendon and lower back), which didn’t allow me to prepare the season as I was hoping. Anyway, from May onwards it went smoother again and I could still perform on a good level in the biggest competitions (WOC, World Games, CISM). In the end, I was landing around the places I’ve been in average during the last years (15th - 25th at WOC). My goals before the season were to land in the Top 10 but coming home with a medal from the World Games was, by far, more than what I had expected.

In Vuokatti, you fulfilled your 10th presence in a WOC. Throughout this time within the Elite at the highest level, what are the best moments that you remember? And the worst?

G. K. - I was lucky to show up at the WOC twice. In my first participation, in Sweden 2004, I was selected after a teammate got injured. Unfortunately I missed the Long Final by 13 seconds. And in 2012, I tore a ligament at CISM a few weeks before WOC, which made my presence quite unlikely, but somehow I got it fixed in time, but didn’t have enough power to stand 4 times in a row. My best moments are connected to my best results and to trips to countries I wouldn’t have come otherwise: Japan (9th place), Ukraine. Although the results could have been better, the WOC in France, including the preparation camps, was unforgettable: terrain, landscape, weather, atmosphere. Running the sprint at last year’s WOC was also a gift, due to the many cheering spectators. You see, there are many stories to be told about every WOC, which would be worth mentioning. Luckily, no bad memories come into my mind. And I shouldn’t forget to mention the many memorable banquets and after parties.

What characteristics does an orienteer need to have to reach the top? Compared with Thierry Gueorgiou, for example, what does he have that you don't have?

G. K. - Maybe I should talk seriously to him about it (laughs). Well, maybe a “little bit” of everything. The fact is: he is both physically and technically better. That’s also the answer to your first question. Besides speed and technique, you also need mental strength to show your potential on the right day. But I think there are different ways to reach a high level in orienteering, both physically and technically. That’s, somehow, the danger in orienteering training, once your hear: “ - Thierry is doing o-training nearly every day”, “ - ok, I have to do it as well.” Or, “ - Kyburz is running intervals X times a week”, “ - I have to do it as well”… So, finding your own way of doing things is crucial in orienteering to reach the top.

Living for about one year in Sweden, what changed in your life?

G. K. - Everything and nothing, at the same time: I live in a completely new environment, I have many very nice forests around me and I access to more short-term training camps. There's a sand beach 150 metres from my home next to the hotel Ahusstrand, no mountains in sight and I don’t have to run 15 minutes through the city, before reaching the next park (which I had to do in Vienna, the year before). And I can watch the squirrels while having breakfast. Nothing, because I didn’t perform better at WOC.

Can you call yourself a professional orienteer?

G. K. - No. Somehow half-professional.

How do you feel in the OK Pan Kristianstad family?

G. K. - Top. Family is the right word. It feels good to be welcome in a whole new club and off-club activities. And very important: I’m sure we have the best food on o-training camps, thanks to Milos, the Master-Cook of Hotel Ahusstrand. What has some room for improvement: our performances, including mine in Sweden.

How do you see the present moment of Orienteering overall? Are we going on the right way?

G. K. - Have you read Radek Novotny’s thoughts? I would sign it mostly. I somehow wonder how we are coming to decisions inside the IOF. At least all the runners I was talking with are not that happy with the new WOC system, for example, or the World cup scheme. I would have been a fan of one year Sprint-WOC, one year forest-WOC. The amount or allocation of starting places for the different nations in Middle and Long distance at WOC are the biggest mistakes. About the program itself: let’s give it a chance…. In the World Cup scheme there's too much room for improvement. I would go back to the World Cup weeks, avoiding much travelling, taking the WOC out of the World Cup, and why not include a 5 day event? The problem is that in Orienteering we have different structures compared with cross country skiing or biathlon, where not so many club activities occur. Just another thing: Trying to broadcast our sport is crucial for “surviving” on the long term I think. I hope we can improve further on that. In Austria we had several high quality TV productions about orienteering last year. With sprint competitions it’s easier to bring our sport to new countries, but I think it’s still the forest competitions that allow the best TV productions.

Have you started your preparation for the 2014 season already? How is it going?

G. K. - Of course I've already started. After two very promising months, I’m facing a period without any running again, after new problems in the lower back. We’ll see how long they stay…

Are we going to see you in Portugal again, on the winter season, for the Portugal O' Meeting?

G. K. - The Portugal O’Meeting has always offered excellent competitions. This winter season, I will have to skip them, due to the World Cup in Turkey. I visited many nice training and competition areas in Portugal so far, always worth a stay. This season I’ll come for the EOC.

And what about the European Championships? What do you expect?

G. K. - If my health situation allows it, I’ll go for all disciplines again. By looking on some previous maps, one might think that Portugal has more interesting maps to offer. But, we have to run fist, then we can state on this again. In general I expect quite fast races.

What are the dreams of a 30 years old athlete? Getting a medal at WOC, is that something unachievable for you?

G. K. - Haha... Yeah, the age. My coach just told me a few days ago, because we were talking about my injuries... “Don’t forget, you are not the youngest anymore!” (laughs) But you are totally right. A WOC medal is my goal and I still believe in it, that it is achievable for me. It keeps me motivated. My biggest goals this year are: WOC, O-Ringen in Skåne, and CISM in Austria: a podium in each of them.

In the beginning of another year, I would like to ask you to make a wish.

G. K. - No pain while running!

Joaquim Margarido