Norway Wins gold in Dramatic Men’s Relay at World Orienteering Championships

Norway claimed the World Orienteering Championships relay gold in dominant fashion. The team consisted of Jørgen Baklid, Eirik Langedal Breivik, and Kasper Harlem Fosser.

Finland secured a bronze medal in the men’s relay, which concluded the World Orienteering Championships, after an extremely dramatic final leg. On the anchor leg, Miika Kirmula battled for bronze against Sweden’s Max Peter Bejmer, who maintained a slight lead throughout. However, after a visit to the arena during the final loop, Sweden’s anchor made a critical mistake. Finland’s Kirmula also made a major error, allowing France’s Lucas Basset to catch up. In the final kilometer, Kirmula managed to shake off the Frenchman.

Kirmula admitted that fatigue from previous races was affecting him, even though he had felt rested in the morning. He couldn’t fully explain what happened during the final loop. Bejmer ultimately failed to find the fourth-to-last control and Sweden was disqualified.

“I ended up on a road and corrected in the wrong direction. When I saw a parking lot, I turned back. That’s when France caught up with me. I had no idea where Bejmer was,” Kirmula recounted.

“After the mistake, I just focused on running as hard as I could, knowing only that it would be a tough battle with France. I’ve been in similar situations with Basset before and trusted myself, though you should never underestimate your competitors.”

“I thought our medal chances were gone. I only learned the situation as I approached the arena,” Kirmula said.

Finland’s team consisted of Kirmula, Topi Syrjäläinen, and Akseli Ruohola.

Norway took control on the second leg in the hills of Puijo and held the lead to the finish. The gold-medal team included Jörgen Baklid, Eirik Langedal Breivik, and Kasper Harlem Fosser.

Switzerland claimed silver, finishing nearly two minutes behind Norway.

Finland’s relay started strong. Topi Syrjäläinen pushed hard in the final sprint of the first leg, reaching the first exchange in second place, just three seconds behind France’s Mathieu Perrin.

The leg was led for a time by Sweden’s Martin Regborn, but he made a 30-second mistake on a downhill section near the end, allowing the lead group to catch up. Perrin and Syrjäläinen passed him, with Perrin finishing strongest. Syrjäläinen trailed by three seconds, with Regborn close behind.

Syrjäläinen, who was a substitute for the relay, was pleased with his performance.

“It was nearly perfect orienteering. Maybe some micro route choices could’ve been better. I usually do well on first legs, and that was the case again,” Syrjäläinen said.

“The course was very physical. I had a brief weak moment on the long leg after the arena visit, where we ran a lot on trails, but once we turned back toward the arena, I felt stronger and caught up with others.”

“I don’t think the World Championship relay is that different from other relays. In the end, I gave it everything I had with the home crowd cheering wildly,” he added.

On the second leg, Norway’s Eirik Langedal Breivik broke away and reached the exchange with a lead of over 30 seconds on Switzerland. Akseli Ruohola pushed hard at the end to move into third place, overtaking Sweden’s Emil Svensk. Finland’s gap to Norway was just over two minutes.

“I think my leg went well. I haven’t had time to review all my route choices—maybe there’s room for improvement. There was apparently forking at the first control. I didn’t see Norway or Sweden after that,” Ruohola said.

“Competing with the home crowd cheering was an amazing experience,” said Ruohola, who gave himself a score of nine out of ten for the race.

Results: https://online-live.tulospalvelu.fi/tulokset-new/en/2025_wocrelay/

Text: Jorma Erkkilä
Photo: Hannu Keränen