Norway and Sweden Win Thrilling Orienteering Relay Races

Two thrilling relay races through the rocky forests of Czechia reminded the world why orienteering deserves more attention.

Norway's women and Sweden's men each claimed victories at the third round of the 2026 Orienteering World Cup near Vyšší Brod, Czechia. The competitions delivered edge-of-your-seat drama as athletes navigated hilly, rocky terrain with varying forest openness.

Norway's women dominated from start to finish, though not without heart-stopping moments along the way. Victoria Hæstad Bjørnstad gave her team a strong start on the first leg, staying close to the leaders before opening a 13-second gap. Marie Olaussen held the lead on the second leg despite briefly losing it to Sweden's young runner Klara Borg after a mistake at the 10th control.

The final leg brought the biggest scare when Pia Young Vik lost time early and was caught by both Czech Republic's Lucie Dittrichová and Sweden's Sanna Fasth. But while her competitors made costly errors, Vik kept her composure and ran safely to victory with a 1:47 minute margin over Dittrichová, who had an enthusiastic home crowd cheering her on.

The men's race delivered even more excitement. Switzerland 2's Tino Polsini led after the first leg when favorites from Sweden and Switzerland lost significant time. Finland's Topi Syrjäläinen took control on the second leg with Norway's Eirik Langedal Breivik close behind.

Gustav Bergman changed everything for Sweden on the second leg, making up 13 positions and nearly a full minute. His performance set up a thrilling finale between Norway's Kasper Fosser and Sweden's Viktor Svenk.

The two ran together for half the course before Svenk made his move at the penultimate control, sprinting to victory with just 13 seconds separating them. Finland's Olli Ojanaho finished third, more than a minute behind the winner.

Why This Inspires

These races showcase what makes orienteering special: it's not just about speed or strength, but mental toughness and recovery. When Vik lost her lead in the Czech forests, she didn't panic. When Bergman started far behind, he didn't give up. Their ability to stay focused under pressure and bounce back from mistakes turned potential defeats into victories.

Athletes and fans now look forward to the World Cup final in Lithuania this September, where more inspiring performances await.