Simona Aebersold completes golden sweep as Austria and Switzerland claim Team Relay gold
CARTAGENA (ESP) - The 52nd World Military Orienteering Championship came to a thrilling close yesterday in Cartagena, Spain, with the Team Relay event crowning the final champions. After days of intense competition through varied and challenging terrains, Austria and Switzerland claimed the top spots in the men’s and women’s events, respectively, showcasing exceptional teamwork and individual brilliance.
In the men's competition, Austria I delivered a stellar performance, clinching the gold with a total time of 2:05:45. The Austrian trio—Nicolas Kastner, Mathias Peter, and Jannis Bonek—proved to be an unstoppable force, maintaining a steady lead from the first exchange, despite fierce competition from Switzerland II. Nicolas Kastner set a strong pace on the first leg, clocking 43:02, but it was Mathias Peter’s impressive 41:16 on the second leg that cemented Austria's advantage. Jannis Bonek brought it home, crossing the finish line in 2:05:45, just 1 minute and 26 seconds ahead of Switzerland II.
Switzerland II fought hard to stay within striking distance throughout the race. Timo Tantanini’s blistering 40:52 in the opening leg gave them a lead, but despite a solid second leg by Pascal Buchs and a valiant effort by Reto Egger, they couldn’t close the gap, finishing with a time of 2:07:11. France I secured third place, 3 minutes and 28 seconds behind Austria, with a remarkable final push by Mathieu Perrin, who recorded the fastest leg time of 39:41.
On the women’s side, Switzerland once again demonstrated their dominance, with a commanding victory that saw them finish in 1:49:00. Paula Gross, Sofie Bachmann, and Simona Aebersold delivered flawless performances, with Aebersold particularly shining as she clocked an astounding 32:46 in the final leg. This win marked Aebersold’s fourth gold medal of the championship, following her triumphs in the Middle Distance, Long Distance, and Mixed Sprint Relay events—a clean sweep that will be remembered for years to come.
France, who consistently posed a challenge throughout the competition, took silver in the women’s relay. Despite the strong efforts of Maelle Beauvir and Isia Basset, who recorded the fastest split in the French team with 37:00, they finished 5 minutes and 42 seconds behind Switzerland with a time of 1:54:42. Poland rounded out the podium in third place, finishing 12 minutes and 25 seconds behind the Swiss team.
The final day’s results only added to the drama and excitement that has defined this championship, with athletes pushing themselves to their limits and showing remarkable endurance, skill, and teamwork. As the competition drew to a close, it was clear that the legacy of this year’s World Military Orienteering Championship will be marked by unforgettable performances, especially from Switzerland's Simona Aebersold, whose four-gold streak was nothing short of legendary.
Rewatch the Team Relay event :
Follow the races live on the Spanish Orienteering Federation YouTube Channel and follow the event on the LOC Facebook Page and LOC Website.
(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department)
